On January 5, 2026, Franklin Brown was sworn in as Mayor, and Blake Rainwater and Leigh Johnston were sworn in as Council Members.
Historical recordClarkesvillearchived · completed
Clarkesville council sets $18 qualifying fee for November election, then swears in the winners
The council set an $18 qualifying fee for Mayor and three council seats on the November ballot, and the newly elected officials have now taken office.
Latest
January 5, 2026: Swearing in of Leigh Johnston as Council Member
At a glance
What this means now
The story
The Clarkesville Mayor and City Council voted 5-0 to set qualifying fees of $18.00 for candidates seeking Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5 in the regular election to be held November 4, 2025.
In August 2025 the council discussed election qualifying rules, including whether a sitting council member must vacate a seat if their term ends less than 30 days before a new term starts, and city staff announced the qualifying dates for the election.
On January 5, 2026, Franklin Brown was sworn in as Mayor, and Blake Rainwater and Leigh Johnston were sworn in as Council Members.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
mentionedunknownFranklin Brown sworn in as Mayor
Pastor Hobie Wood administered the Oath of Office and Franklin Brown was sworn in as
Mayor.
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Franklin Brown sworn in as Mayor
Pastor Hobie Wood administered the Oath of Office and Franklin Brown was sworn in as Mayor.
ApprovedconfirmedFranklin Brown sworn in as Mayor
Pastor Hobie Wood administered the Oath of Office and Franklin Brown was sworn in as
Mayor.
+
Franklin Brown sworn in as Mayor
Pastor Hobie Wood administered the Oath of Office and Franklin Brown was sworn in as Mayor.
Appeared on agendaproposedBlake Rainwater sworn in as Council Member
Blake Rainwater Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
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Blake Rainwater sworn in as Council Member
Blake Rainwater Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
ApprovedconfirmedLeigh Johnston sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Leigh Johnston was sworn in as
a Council Member.
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Leigh Johnston sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Leigh Johnston was sworn in as a Council Member.
mentionedunknownLeigh Johnston sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Leigh Johnston was sworn in as
a Council Member.
+
Leigh Johnston sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Leigh Johnston was sworn in as a Council Member.
Appeared on agendaproposedSwearing in of Franklin Brown as Mayor
Franklin Brown Will Be Sworn in as Mayor
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Swearing in of Franklin Brown as Mayor
Franklin Brown Will Be Sworn in as Mayor
mentionedunknownBlake Rainwater sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Blake Rainwater was sworn in
as a Council Member.
+
Blake Rainwater sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Blake Rainwater was sworn in as a Council Member.
Appeared on agendaproposedSwearing in of Blake Rainwater as Council Member
Blake Rainwater Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
+
Swearing in of Blake Rainwater as Council Member
Blake Rainwater Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
Appeared on agendaproposedFranklin Brown sworn in as Mayor
Franklin Brown Will Be Sworn in as Mayor
+
Franklin Brown sworn in as Mayor
Franklin Brown Will Be Sworn in as Mayor
Appeared on agendaproposedLeigh Johnston sworn in as Council Member
Leigh Johnston Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
+
Leigh Johnston sworn in as Council Member
Leigh Johnston Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
ApprovedconfirmedBlake Rainwater sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Blake Rainwater was sworn in
as a Council Member.
+
Blake Rainwater sworn in as Council Member
Mayor Franklin Brown administered the Oath of Office and Blake Rainwater was sworn in as a Council Member.
Appeared on agendaproposedSwearing in of Leigh Johnston as Council Member
Leigh Johnston Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
+
Swearing in of Leigh Johnston as Council Member
Leigh Johnston Will Be Sworn in as Council Member
Appeared on agendaproposedElection qualifying for upcoming city election
Discuss Election Qualifying
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Election qualifying for upcoming city election
Discuss Election Qualifying
Discusseddiscussed2025 election qualifying rules and dates
Julie
Poole also announced the qualifying dates for the 2025 primary election.
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2025 election qualifying rules and dates
Julie Poole also announced the qualifying dates for the 2025 primary election.
DiscusseddiscussedElection law
Council discussed election law.
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Election law
Council discussed election law.
Appeared on agendaproposedElection qualifying
Discuss Election Qualifying
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Election qualifying
Discuss Election Qualifying
DiscusseddiscussedElection qualifying rules for sitting Council Members and 2025 primary qualifying dates
that person does not have to vacate their seat if their current term ends less than 30
days of when the new term starts.
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Election qualifying rules for sitting Council Members and 2025 primary qualifying dates
that person does not have to vacate their seat if their current term ends less than 30 days of when the new term starts.
Appeared on agendaproposedQualifying fees of $18.00 for the November 4, 2025 regular election for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
Discuss and Vote to Set Qualifying Fees of $18.00 (Eighteen Dollars) for the Regular
Election Held on November 4, 2025 for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
+
Qualifying fees of $18.00 for the November 4, 2025 regular election for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
Discuss and Vote to Set Qualifying Fees of $18.00 (Eighteen Dollars) for the Regular Election Held on November 4, 2025 for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
ApprovedconfirmedQualifying fees of $18.00 for the November 4, 2025 regular election for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
Discuss and Vote to Set Qualifying Fees of $18.00 (Eighteen Dollars) for the
Regular Election Held on November 4, 2025 for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
+
Qualifying fees of $18.00 for the November 4, 2025 regular election for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
Discuss and Vote to Set Qualifying Fees of $18.00 (Eighteen Dollars) for the Regular Election Held on November 4, 2025 for Mayor and Council Member Posts 1, 4 and 5
ApprovedunknownQualifying fees of $18.00 for November 4, 2025 election, Mayor and Council Posts 1, 4 and 5
made a motion to vote
to set qualifying fees of $18.00.
+
Qualifying fees of $18.00 for November 4, 2025 election, Mayor and Council Posts 1, 4 and 5
made a motion to vote to set qualifying fees of $18.00.
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