City & town

Mayor, City of Loudon

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The mayor leads the City of Loudon and presides over its city council.

Nonpartisan.

Candidates Compare by issue

John Cardwell

No party listed

Loudon City Council member; retired U.S. Army major general

The gist

Proposes updating zoning to match long-term land use plans
Wrote a historic zoning ordinance protecting landmarks
Opposes using city reserves to cover recurring expenses
Proposes switching to performance-based budgeting
Pledges an open, ethical and transparent city government

More about John

View sources (1)

Proposes updating zoning to match long-term land use plans
Planning for growth: Cardwell seeks Loudon mayor seat in November
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 22, 2026 · news-herald.net
“Cardwell said he will help manage growth by updating the zoning ordinances to align with long-term planning.”
Wrote a historic zoning ordinance protecting landmarks
Planning for growth: Cardwell seeks Loudon mayor seat in November
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 22, 2026 · news-herald.net
“I wrote a new historic zoning ordinance which now gives the city some muscle in enforcing historic preservation.”
Opposes using city reserves to cover recurring expenses
Planning for growth: Cardwell seeks Loudon mayor seat in November
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 22, 2026 · news-herald.net
“we cannot use our savings to fund recurring expenses”
Proposes switching to performance-based budgeting
Planning for growth: Cardwell seeks Loudon mayor seat in November
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 22, 2026 · news-herald.net
“He said he wants to get rid of outdated line-item budgeting and transition to performance based budgeting.”
Pledges an open, ethical and transparent city government
Planning for growth: Cardwell seeks Loudon mayor seat in November
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 22, 2026 · news-herald.net
“I will continue to fight for an open, ethical, transparent governmental process which represents all citizens”

Jeff Harris

No party listedIncumbent

Mayor of Loudon; church administrator

The gist

Supports paying recurring expenses only with recurring revenue
Pledges cost cuts before any tax increase
Supports restarting the downtown waterfront development project
Supports a Highway 72 corridor study to improve traffic
Pledges weekly office hours for residents

More about Jeff

View sources (1)

Supports paying recurring expenses only with recurring revenue
Harris seeks third term as Loudon city mayor
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 29, 2026 · news-herald.net
“Recurring expenses need to be paid for by recurring revenue”
Pledges cost cuts before any tax increase
Harris seeks third term as Loudon city mayor
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 29, 2026 · news-herald.net
“Before we look at any tax increase or reductions in services we would look to where we can reduce costs”
Supports restarting the downtown waterfront development project
Harris seeks third term as Loudon city mayor
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 29, 2026 · news-herald.net
“the city is looking to bring in a developer to re-start the mixed use residential and retail waterfront project”
Supports a Highway 72 corridor study to improve traffic
Harris seeks third term as Loudon city mayor
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 29, 2026 · news-herald.net
“A study on the Highway 72 corridor will improve traffic flow in this high growth area”
Pledges weekly office hours for residents
Harris seeks third term as Loudon city mayor
News coverage · Loudon County News Herald · Jul 29, 2026 · news-herald.net
“I set up office hours in my first term. I’m in every Friday if someone wants to meet with me”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.