City

Mayor, City of Franklin

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The mayor presides over the City of Franklin's board of commissioners, which hires a city manager to run day-to-day operations, and serves a four-year term.

Nonpartisan. Open seat: Mayor Larry Dixon is not on the ballot. Kelly Bush and Wendell Stewart are Franklin city commissioners; Dixon defeated Bush for mayor in 2022 (State Board of Elections results).

Candidates Compare by issue

Kelly Bush

No party listed

The gist

Voted against raising Franklin's property tax rate to 11 cents
Voted against the $8.6 million Kroger Road project
Voted against Franklin's 2026-27 city budget
Pledges transparency and hard questions in city government

More about Kelly

View sources (4)

Voted against raising Franklin's property tax rate to 11 cents
Franklin City Commission approves property tax hike to 11 cents in 3-2 vote
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Sep 17, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“Commissioners Kelly Bush and Dale McCreary voted against the motion”
Voted against the $8.6 million Kroger Road project
City commission approves $8.6 million Kroger Road project
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Aug 6, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“The reason I'm opposed, and the reason I voted in opposition, is because I never felt like this should've been a city responsibility”
Voted against Franklin's 2026-27 city budget
City Commission approves FY 2026-2027 budget
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Jul 2, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“The budget passed 4 to 1, with Commissioner Kelly Bush casting the lone dissenting vote.”
Pledges transparency and hard questions in city government
Bush files for Franklin mayor
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Jul 30, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“my persistence, willingness to ask difficult questions, and commitment to transparency have played an important role in creating that change”

Doug Thompson

No party listed

The gist

Supports responsible growth and stronger support for local businesses
Supports involving citizens before city decisions are made

More about Doug

View sources (1)

Supports responsible growth and stronger support for local businesses
Thompson files for Franklin Mayor
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Jun 4, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“I support responsible growth, stronger support for local businesses, better long-term planning”
Supports involving citizens before city decisions are made
Thompson files for Franklin Mayor
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Jun 4, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“leadership that listens to the citizens of Franklin, not after decisions are made, but before”

Wendell Stewart

No party listed

The gist

Voted for raising Franklin's property tax rate to 11 cents
Supports reviving the cancelled community splash pad project
Supports a better city relationship with county officials

More about Wendell

View sources (3)

Voted for raising Franklin's property tax rate to 11 cents
Franklin City Commission approves property tax hike to 11 cents in 3-2 vote
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Sep 17, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“Mayor Larry Dixon voted alongside Commissioners Wendell Stewart and Jaime Powell to pass the increase”
Supports reviving the cancelled community splash pad project
Franklin community splash pad project cancelled
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Apr 23, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“I do not want to see this project fade away, even if it has to be downscaled.”
Supports a better city relationship with county officials
Stewart files for Franklin Mayor
News coverage · Franklin Favorite · Jan 1, 2026 · franklinfavorite.com
“I'm definitely open to reconciling a new and improved relationship with the county officials with open lines of communication”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.