There will be no change to Germantown’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Position 1 representative Scott Sanders fended off a challenge from Manjit Kaur as he garnered 66% of ballots cast in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results.

Chatham leads Germantown school board candidates in campaign funds

On the education side of the ballot, a new member will join the Germantown Municipal School District Board of Education and an incumbent will return as Daniel Chatham and board chair Angela Griffith won their respective races.

Results will be unofficial until certified by the election commission in a future meeting.

Sanders promoted the experience he’s gained the past four years, while Kaur used her civic engagement as a platform. He believes his record carried him.

“(Residents) know where I stand on issues,” the alderman said. “I always explain my votes. I vote what’s best for Germantown each and every time.”

Chatham, a pediatrician, will take Position 2 on the school board in December as Betsy Landers finishes her term. He defeated Jeff Chipman, an Arlington High School choral director, with the unofficial totals showing Chatham earning about 69% of the ballots cast.

“Our message really resonated with Germantown voters,” the pediatrician said. “We have a strong school district. People want to send their kids here. They support our teachers and parents' voices are heard and valued.”

Financial contributions contrast candidates in Germantown alderman election

Griffith, who currently serves as board chairwoman, won her second four-year term capturing an estimated 55% of the votes, according to unofficial results. She defeated Carrie Schween, a district mother who works at FedEx. Griffith ran on her track record of the last four years, stating she’s accomplished much of what she set out to do, including adding a non-voting student member to advise the board and establishing a better relationship between the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the school board.

“We stayed the course in spite of everything that was getting thrown at us, and I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from people in the community,” Griffith said Tuesday evening.

Moving forward, she wants to continue advocating for the district to state lawmakers, which improved during her first term.

Schween, former Mrs. Tennessee, ran on a platform of parental voice in the local school district. She stated if she was elected, she would establish town halls multiple times per year to encourage back-and-forth dialogue. Town halls are part of the Board of Education’s strategic plan. Griffith notes the district has had town halls and focus groups during her time on the board. Soon the district will use town halls to gather input on Houston High’s future.

Only a few votes were needed Tuesday for Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo to win another four-year term, a contrast to the close race for the suburb’s top elected spot four years ago.

Chatham leads Germantown school board candidates in campaign funds

Meanwhile, Alderwoman Mary Anne Gibson also was assured her third four-year term on election night by the time the poll closed.

Both candidates were unopposed in their races, easily moving them back into office. 

Four years ago, Palazzolo won a close race against then-Alderman John Barzizza. The race was heated and resulted in a 120-margin favoring Palazzolo. 

Without an opponent this year, Palazzolo has focused on long-term projects like finishing the Germantown Greenway, the sports complex on the south side of town and how to fund the Germantown Municipal School District’s plans for Houston High.

Financial contributions contrast candidates in Germantown alderman election

“You begin to think broadly and then begin to work a little bit differently on long-term projects,” he said, adding in an unopposed race, not every move has to be justified to voters. 

Despite the uncontested race, Palazzolo did spend some time at the polls Tuesday talking to Germantown residents, thanking them for allowing him to serve.

Gibson had an opponent four years ago and won by 665 votes. 

“I fully expected to have a challenge,” Gibson said last week. “I’m relieved I don’t. I’m able to work on the service side of the work we do. ... In the past eight years, we’ve gotten a lot of work done and work that has been impactful to our residents.”

The city administration has placed an emphasis on public safety, parks, infrastructure and education.

Germantown school board chair faces challenge in reelection bid

When Gibson first ran, GMSD was in its infancy. The newly formed district helped sparked Gibson’s desire to run after being appointed to serve on the legacy Shelby County Schools board of education.

“I felt that it was time to serve in a different way,” she said, noting schools anchor a community and connect neighbors to each other.