JOHN COFFELTEditor

The deadline to qualify for the Manchester Mayor and Aldermen race is Noon on Thursday, April 4, but this election cycle is already promising for a crowded field of candidates.

Longtime local attorney James Threet is the only one, as of March 28, to have returned papers for the aldermen race, yet undecided incumbent Ryan French has picked up papers for one of the three open seats, as has freshman Alderman Julie Anderson.

Former Alderman Wilma Thomas has picked up papers along with Joe P. Cope, John “Bull” Fletcher, while political outsiders Jason Bramblett, Shannon Fletcher and Harold Jones have also picked up papers.

In the mayor’s race, former Alderman Bill Nickels, Aldermen Bob Bellamy and Joey Hobbs have qualified for the ballot, and Brandon Imhoff has picked up papers.

This election will likely impact the makeup of BOMA for the next four years. Three of the six available seats are currently up for grabs. However, if Alderman Hobbs, whose term ends in 2026, were elected mayor, that would open a fourth alderman seat. Aldermen Donny Parsley and Vice Mayor Mark Messick’s terms also end in 2026. French, Anderson and Bellamy’s seats are up for grabs this year.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.