Six elected seats have terms ending in December 2026: one seat in each of Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4, plus two at-large seats. Candidates are still needed for Sewanee Community Council District 3. If you live in Sewanee District 3 and are still interested in serving on the Community Council, please submit your candidacy petition no later than Oct. 28, 2026. Information about the election, including a district map, and the petition form can be found on the Sewanee Community Council website: <https://new.sewanee.edu/offices/university-offices/leases-and-community-relations/community-council/>.

Early voting is through Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Voting is in-person during business hours at the Office of Leases and Community Relations, 400 University Avenue (Blue House). Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Voting is in-person at Sewanee Elementary School.

On Nov. 3, the Sewanee community will elect one representative for each of the four districts and two at-large representatives. Read on to learn why the candidates want to serve on the council and what special skills and qualifications they will bring to the role of council representative.

Jayme Condra, District 1 candidate. Born and raised in Sewanee, I come from a wonderful, loving family with deep roots in our community. I am a proud descendant of Allen Gipson, an original benefactor of the University of the South. I was raised on a small farm on Sherwood Road by my grandparents, Berry and Hattie Gipson, both of whom worked for and retired from the University. They instilled in me the values of hard work, honest living, good manners, and treating others with respect.

After graduating from Franklin County High School in 1994, I met and married my husband, Charles. Together, we raised three amazing children and are now looking forward to retirement and spending more time with our family.

Community involvement and service are important to me. Many may remember my uncle, James Gipson, a Sewanee alumnus and dedicated steward of our town. His commitment to the community is a legacy I deeply respect and hope to carry forward.

I believe I would be a good fit for the Community Council because I bring a deep appreciation for Sewanee’s history, an open mind, and a generous spirit. I would be honored to represent my fellow community members, listen to their concerns, and help navigate the local issues that affect us all. I welcome questions, comments, and suggestions and pledge to approach my service with honesty, fairness, and an open heart.

You can find me at the Sewanee Utility District, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. I look forward to listening, learning, and working together for the good of our community.

Pamela Byerly, District 2 candidate. I came to Sewanee in November 1998, and was happily employed by the Office of Marketing and Communication. After a couple of years, I moved to 288 Willie Six Road in District 2 and decided to run for community council. In my previous terms on council I have served as secretary, as a leasehold committee representative, and as a liaison to the trustees’ community committee. I have also served on the downtown committee and the stormwater committee at the University. I enjoy working for our community. As a downtown resident it is important to be aware of downtown development and make sure its impact on current residents is positive. Now happily retired, I would be honored to serve our community once again.

District 3 candidate(s) TBD before General Election.

Mark Webb, District 4 candidate. Mark served as the University’s Director of Athletics from 1995 until 2021. He previously worked at Vanderbilt University as an Assistant Athletic Director and as a head cross country and track coach. He has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University and an MBA in finance from Vanderbilt. He currently serves on the Duck River Electric Board of Directors and the University Lease Committee. Previously, he served as Co-Chair of the Sewanee Community Chest with his wife Melissa and served on the board of the Sewanee Children’s Center.

Chris Barton, At-Large candidate. Chris and his wife Margaret, C’78, moved permanently to Sewanee in November 2019 after having worked for the federal executive branch, the U.S. Congress, and a multinational development bank in Washington, D.C.

Chris received his juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1990, and his B.A. from Yale University in 1981.

From 1995 until 2003, Chris served on the professional staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). From 2003 to 2005, Chris was honored to serve as a Director on the White House’s National Security Council staff under President George W. Bush. From 2005 until late 2019, Chris worked as a senior strategic communications and planning advisor to Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno, the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Since moving to Sewanee, Chris has been active in various local community service programs, most notably as the President of the Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club, and later, as the head of its charitable foundation.

Based on what Chris has observed during his years here as a community volunteer, he has decided to run for an at-large seat on Sewanee’s Community Council. Chris’s candidacy is based on three pillars of public service focused on improving the quality of life for people in Sewanee. First, listening to the needs of residents and to communicate more effectively with all of the people in our community. Second, learning to build networks of help and to establish enduring trust among and between residents of our community. Third, responding to act in support of neighbors in our community who may need helping hands and assistance. Chris respectfully asks for your vote for Sewanee Community Council.

Michael Payne, At-Large candidate. I have a long history with Sewanee beginning in the 1960s when my eldest brother was a student at the University. I am a 1976 Alumnus and parent of an Alumnus. My wife Jeanie and I bought our Kentucky Avenue home in 2004 and moved here permanently in 2018 after my retirement as an attorney in Atlanta. Prior to Sewanee, we lived in Avondale Estates, Ga., a small city that is part of the Atlanta area and very similar to Sewanee in many ways. I was very involved in all aspects of that community, including serving as an elected official. We have three grown children (two of whom now live in Sewanee) and three grandchildren. I have served the University in a number of ways, including the Board of Trustees, Past President of the Associated Alumni and the Greek Alumni Council. I am Past President of the Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club and currently serve on Community Council as a representative of District 3. My wife and I are both committed to Sewanee and our greater Plateau Community.

Ben Tarhan, At-Large candidate. Ben moved to Sewanee in the fall of 2020. A city boy at heart, Ben has fallen in love with Sewanee and all it has to offer. He views the Community Council as an important outlet to help keep Sewanee a healthy, growing and inclusive community. Having strong representation on the council is the first step. During the day, Ben works from home (aka Stirling’s) as a software developer, and in what little spare time he has, you can find him with his wife Elise, their two children and their two dogs and four cats. He is currently serving as the District 1 Community Council representative, and is the President of the Sewanee Civic Association.