Shane McFarland remains Murfreesboro mayor; Scales-Harris retains council seat

Nancy DeGennaro and Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
·2 min read

Three candidates with the most at-large votes won four-year terms on the Murfreesboro City Council Thursday night.

Vice Mayor Madelyn Scales-Harris will retain her seat as two new members were elected to the city council.

Murfreesboro City Council candidates wait for a political forum for Murfreesboro City Council candidates, to start on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at City Hall in Murfreesboro. The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters in partnership with Murfreesboro CityTV. Candidates at the forum were Jami Averwater, Carolyn Cox, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Warren Russell, and Ricky Turner. Murfreesboro City Council candidate Samantha Sourinho was absent due to illness.

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Scales Harris garnered 21% of the votes with 6,408. The two other candidates to win seats on the city council are Austin Maxwell, with 5,153 votes and Jami K. Averwater with 4,991.

Four other candidates vying for the seats included Carolyn Cox, 4,101; Warren Russell, 4,087; Ricky Turner, 3,698 and Samantha Sourinho, 1,667.

City Council members receive $11,400 annually.

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Murfreesboro city Mayor: McFarland wins

Murfreesboro mayor Shane McFarland surpassed his two opponents by more than 6,000 votes to retain his seat.

Mayoral candidate and current Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland speaks during a political forum for Murfreesboro Mayoral candidates, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at City Hall in Murfreesboro. The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters in partnership with Murfreesboro CityTV.
Mayoral candidate and current Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland speaks during a political forum for Murfreesboro Mayoral candidates, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at City Hall in Murfreesboro. The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters in partnership with Murfreesboro CityTV.

McFarland, who was elected to serve his third four-year term with 8,446 votes, faced off with former Murfreesboro fire captain Tony Lehew, who had 2,103 votes, and Blackman High math teacher Nathan Bennett, who garnered 2,100 votes.

McFarland said his win is an affirmation that the people of Murfreesboro see the hard work that goes into the job. But he was quick to give accolades to all those who support him in his work.

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"It's not a one-person show," McFarland said. "It all goes to show the direction of the council and all our employees of the city for how hard they work."

McFarland expects transportation and the Middle Point Landfill are two of the biggest issues facing the community in the next four years of his term.

The mayor of Murfreesboro receives a $12,000 annual salary.

Election results will be official after the Rutherford County Election Commission meets at 5 p.m. Aug. 15 to certify them.

Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at [email protected]. 

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: McFarland stays Murfreesboro mayor; Scales-Harris retains council seat

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