Six Collierville residents are interested in one alderman seat, setting up a likely runoff following the Nov. 3 election.

Additionally, incumbent aldermen will face challengers in Positions 3 and 5. And Mayor Stan Joyner will easily win another term as he is unopposed for the town’s top elected position.

Collierville ballot begins to take shape

The municipal election ballot for the East Shelby county town is set after last Thursday’s noon deadline for qualification. The only change could come if a candidate steps aside before Thursday’s withdrawal deadline.

Most candidates are seeking the remaining two years in Alderman Position 4, which is on the Nov. 3 ballot due to the death of the late-Tom Allen.

Collierville’s town ordinances require a runoff if one person does not win 50% of the vote. The last Collierville runoffs were in June 2003, when both Aldermen Jimmy Lott and Justin Mitchell won spots on the board. 

Monday evening, Collierville leaders appointed Taylor Stamps to serve until the Position 4 winner takes office. The mayor and aldermen were required to appoint someone for the interim position.

Here are the candidates who have qualified for the race.

Position 4

William Boone

William Boone has spent his entire life in Collierville and challenged Alderwoman Maureen Fraser for her position in 2018.

He graduated from Collierville High in 1981 and joined the town’s volunteer fire department the following year. By 1984, he worked full time for the Collierville Fire Department and retired in 2015, although he notes it was not of his choice. He was terminated.

Boone has spent the last three years as an emergency medical technician in the critical care unit at a pediatric hospital. 

He has not served on town commissions but is part of the NAACP in Collierville.

Boone lives near the Town Square and wants to diversify the Board of Mayor and Alderman.

“I see some things that could be done around my community,” he said. “We’ve been neglected on the southern side of town. … Everybody needs to be treated fairly, and we need to make sure people are taken care of in the same manner.”

Connor Lambert

William “Connor” Lambert is a junior at Rhodes College and a 2018 graduate of St. George’s Independent School. Both COVID-19, plus Collierville protests and rallies following George Floyd’s death “catalyzed (his) drive” to pursue the open aldermanic position. He believes his young voice could bring a unique perspective.

“One of the easiest places for change to take place is in local government,” Lambert said, noting he has always wanted to pursue public office. “The problems we face today can’t be fixed with the status quo we’ve always seen.”

Lambert is active on campus. As the Sigma Mu philanthropy chair, he focuses on giving back to the community. He is also involved with the Tennessee Intercollegiate Legislature.

Filings continue for Collierville school board seat as one drops out

Missy Marshall

Missy Marshall currently serves on the Planning Commission. In 2017, she was one of many who sought the Republican nomination for District 95 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Kevin Vaughan won the nomination and the seat.

“For me, I want to listen. I’ve been prayerfully considering this,” she said, noting she’s received positive responses in the community. “If God keeps opening the door, I’ll keep pressing forward. ... For me, this position puts me in a better situation to be able to educate people and inspire.”

She believes Collierville needs female leaders and sees leadership qualities in herself. She enjoys the community and said whoever is elected must continue the successful work of the town but also improve where it’s needed.

Professionally, Marshall has served as executive director of Keep Tennessee Beautiful for seven years. She has held numerous executive government positions at the state level.

Rick Rout

Rick Rout is a Republican activist and the son of former Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout. He previously sought elected office and was the Republican nominee for General Sessions Court Clerk in 2012. He said if people want to serve their community, it’s imperative they become involved.

“I want to preserve the Collierville today for our children tomorrow,” he said, noting Collierville is a community to “live, work, play and raise a family.”

He added it’s the “best biggest small town.”

Rout has been involved in local, state and federal campaigns.

Professionally, he worked at FedEx for 12 years. Rout currently serves as an insurance needs specialist. His past also includes time as a sheriff’s deputy in Juvenile Court.

Scott Rozanski

Scott Rozanski has spent more than 15 years on the town’s Planning Commission. He’s also served on the Historic District and the Design Review commissions. 

He’s a father of three who all went to Collierville Schools. When he moved to Collierville in 2003, he wanted to get involved. He began volunteering and went through Leadership Collierville.

He’s been a booster for Lobos Rush soccer, an usher at Church of the Incarnation and volunteer with Boy Scouts.

For him “service is in the blood.”

“I’m not much of a politician,” he said. “I really do just want to serve.” 

He enjoys the “quality of life” Collierville provides and wants to “preserve it for the next generation.’

Professionally, he worked in construction, starting in his teens with drywall and painting. He graduated from college and then spent time at different firms. The last 17 years have been with Spirit Architecture where he is the co-owner and chief operating officer.

He said those various experiences give him a unique point of view he could use if elected.

Robert Smith 

Smith has lived in Collierville since 1996 and is a sixth-generation resident of the town. 

“I’ve never for a second thought about living anywhere else really,” he said.

His grandmother is Mary Jean Smith, who owns Silver Caboose and Soda Fountain in Downtown Collierville.

Smith is a pilot for a large passenger airline company and for the Air National Guard. His family and friends will campaign for him as he has left on active tour.

“Being part of leadership for the town is a responsibility and a hard job, but it’s good work,” he said before he left. “I want to bring the town’s best interest into the role and give back to the community.”

Postion 3

Harold Curtis Booker

Harold Booker filed for Position 4, but withdrew Tuesday, Aug. 18 and filed for Position 3 to challenge incumbent Alderman John Worley.

Booker grew up in New Jersey, but moved around most of his adult life as he spent 24 years in the U.S. Army.

His wife served in the U.S. Navy, which brought his family to Shelby County in 2008, and they chose to live in Collierville for the schools, moving to the Southridge neighborhood. He has served on the homeowner’s association board the last 11 years, including three as president.

He said the 2040 plan may need to be revisited by town leaders and wants to keep the “small quality town feel” so many admire.

“We shouldn’t get away from it,” he said, but noted the plan may need to be adapted to the ways the town has grown.

Due to the growth of Collierville, he feels the current board doesn’t reflect the makeup the town.

Thomas J. Swan

Thomas Swan also filed for Position 3. Swan grew up in Mississippi near the Gulf Coast. He went to Ole Miss and spent a few years in New Orleans before moving to Memphis in 2005 for an information technology position with FedEx.

The small close-knit community drew him to Collierville and has kept him in the town.

Swan said he wants to bring a different voice than the ones already on the Board of Mayor of Aldermen. 

“Right now, with the loss of Tom Allen, the board is very heavy with real estate presence, and I don’t think it represents the rest of Collierville,” he said. “We need a better cross section (of careers).”

Swan has three children – ages 5, 3 and 1. 

Professionally, he took an IT position at AutoZone after 13 years with FedEx. He has served Collierville on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Town Beautiful Commission.

Position 5

Greg Frazier

Greg Frazier pulled for all three aldermanic positions on the November ballot, but filed for Position 5. The seat is currently held by John Stamps, who is seeking reelection.

Frazier was one of several candidates who ran back in 2003 before the runoff between Duncan and Lott. 

He has been a Collierville resident for 25 years.

“I’ve been involved in Collierville since I came here,” he said. “It’s kind of in my DNA. ... Serving in a leadership position, I can make the community a better place.”

He serves on the grants committee of Collierville Community Fund, the town’s Citizens Police Association and the Police Chief Advisory Board. He also serves with Gideon’s International.

Frazier was formerly part of the Collierville Rotary Club, Collierville Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Commission. He is also a graduate of Leadership Collierville.

Professionally, he retired after working for FedEx for 18 years.

“Now is a good time to serve,” he said. “I have time to devote to serving the town.”

Filings continue for Collierville school board seat as one drops out

On the school board, Wright Cox and Wanda Gibbs will run unopposed. Mark Hansen is not seeking reelection, and Madan Birla, Paul Childers, Rachelle Meier and Kristina Kelly White will seek the position.