Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen's First Month: Clark Demotion Plan Draws Pushback

New Rutherford County Mayor Randy Allen faces questions from the La Vergne and Smyrna mayors and former Mayor Joe Carr over a reported plan to demote Public Safety Director Chris Clark, after earlier personnel moves drew criticism.

Rutherford County's new mayor is under scrutiny for personnel decisions made in his first weeks in office. Mayor Randy Allen, who took office Sept. 1, 2026, faces questions over a reported plan to demote Public Safety Director Chris Clark, the Daily News Journal reported on Sept. 28.

Allen was sworn in by Chancellor Howard W. Wilson on Monday, Aug. 31, at the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse, according to the Daily News Journal.

The Chris Clark Demotion Plan

Clark oversees coordination of the county's Emergency Management Agency, which five local governments fund:

| Government | Share | |---|---| | Rutherford County | 50% | | Murfreesboro | 30% | | Smyrna | 11% | | La Vergne | 8.5% | | Eagleville | 0.5% |

According to the Daily News Journal, Allen reportedly plans to give that coordinating role to EMS Director Brian Gaither. Clark's salary is $159,544; the demotion would cut it by $16,905, to $142,639.

Clark was La Vergne's fire chief before becoming the county's public safety director in 2020 under former Mayor Bill Ketron.

Who Objected

• La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole wrote in a Sept. 8 email that the position "operates countywide and requires significant coordination" with police, fire and emergency management officials.
• Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed called Clark "an invaluable partner" and said that "during an emergency, jurisdictional lines don't matter."
• Former Mayor Joe Carr said Clark was "absolutely instrumental" in coordinating countywide and state resources during the Readyville tornado relief effort.

What Allen Said

In a Sept. 24 email, Allen neither confirmed nor denied the demotion. He wrote that "all personnel decisions will reflect my commitment to responsible growth, accountability, efficient government."

Earlier Personnel Moves

The Clark question follows two earlier decisions that drew criticism, according to the Daily News Journal:

• Joe Carr Jr., the former mayor's son, was fired from an engineering inspector job. Former Commissioner Anthony Johnson told the Steering Committee that Allen ordered the firing because "he decided others were better qualified," and called it "quite frankly, unethical." The county's HR director, Sonya Stephenson, said the nepotism policy allows relatives to work for the county if there is no direct supervisory relationship with an immediate family member.
• County public information officer Lisa Kaye was reassigned to the Solid Waste Department with a $25,000 pay cut.

Allen said in an email that "a change in leadership presents an important opportunity to identify inefficiencies, evaluate priorities and ensure county government is moving in the right direction." Carr said an experienced executive would not make sweeping organizational changes within the first 48 hours.

What's Next

The county is also weighing a new jail; see Rutherford County Jail Holds Nearly Double Its Capacity. Voters heading to the polls in November can find dates and locations in the Rutherford County early voting guide. For city and town news, see the Smyrna and La Vergne guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Rutherford County mayor?

Randy Allen is the Rutherford County mayor. He was sworn in Aug. 31, 2026, and took office Sept. 1, 2026.

Who is Chris Clark in Rutherford County?

Chris Clark is Rutherford County's public safety director and coordinates the county's Emergency Management Agency. He was previously La Vergne's fire chief.

Is Mayor Randy Allen demoting Chris Clark?

The Daily News Journal reports Allen plans to demote Clark and cut his salary from $159,544 to $142,639. In a Sept. 24 email, Allen neither confirmed nor denied it.

Why was Joe Carr Jr. fired?

According to former Commissioner Anthony Johnson, Mayor Allen ordered the firing because he decided others were better qualified. Former Mayor Joe Carr criticized the decision.

Sources: The Daily News Journal, via Yahoo News: Rutherford mayor questioned on demotion plan (Sept. 28) and Mayor Allen questioned on firing former mayor's son.

*Illustration: AI-generated image of a county meeting room.*