Meet Marlin Jackson, Candidate for County Commissioner in District 5
Today, our Grassroots Spotlight features Marlin, running for election as a County Commissioner in District 5.
“My first priority is honoring God by serving with integrity, humility, and responsibility. My ambition isn’t about holding a title or gaining influence. It’s about serving the people of District 5 and representing them well.”
Q: Could you briefly tell us a little bit about yourself?
My wife Kelly and I moved to Nolensville nine years ago with our three children, Reed, Rachel, and Ryan, and this community quickly became home for our family. Our kids have grown up here attending Nolensville schools, participating in church, and staying active in sports and band.
Professionally, I spent more than 25 years in the OEM automotive industry working in sales and marketing. Before that, I grew up in a small town where my family operated three local businesses, a farm, a gas station, and a restaurant, for more than 40 years.
That experience gave me an early appreciation for hard work, entrepreneurship, and the importance of local government policies that affect small businesses and rural communities.
Over the past six years, Kelly and I have also been deeply involved in supporting grassroots candidates and civic engagement here in Williamson County.
Q: Why are you running for County Commissioner? What prompted you to get involved?
I am running for County Commissioner because I have serious concerns about the pace of growth in our county and the long-term financial path we are on. Rapid expansion requires sustainable infrastructure, thoughtful planning, and disciplined budgeting.
With over a billion dollars in debt and significant public resources committed to servicing that debt, we must act now to ensure we remain financially strong. While we currently enjoy relatively low property taxes, failing to correct course could place a heavier burden on our citizens in the years ahead.
Q: How do we balance rapid growth with preserving our community's small-town feel?
The key is effective planning. From a business perspective, everything starts with thoughtful planning and responsible decision-making. We need to clearly identify the needs of the community, understand the resources available, and carefully evaluate the impact growth will have on infrastructure, services, and quality of life.
Balancing growth while preserving our small-town character requires weighing both the short- and long-term effects on the people who live here. If we plan responsibly and make decisions with the community’s best interests in mind, we can accommodate growth while still protecting the character and values that make Williamson County such a special place to live.
Q: How do you plan to fund necessary infrastructure without overextending the county’s budget?
In my corporate career, I managed budgets exceeding $60 million, so I understand the importance of fiscal discipline and responsible stewardship.
The first step is taking a careful look at our current budget to identify opportunities for savings and eliminate waste.
Second, we need to create incentives for department leaders to manage their budgets efficiently. Too often, both in business and government, there’s a “use it or lose it” mentality that encourages unnecessary spending at the end of the year. That’s not good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Instead, we should reward departments that find cost savings and operate efficiently. By encouraging responsible spending and prioritizing needs, we can fund necessary infrastructure while protecting the county from unnecessary debt or overextending our budget.
Q: With all the growth, how can county government help local small businesses thrive alongside larger developments?
My family owned and operated three small businesses in my hometown for more than 40 years. Most small businesses don’t make it past ten years, so growing up in that environment taught me a lot about what it takes to survive and succeed.
There are several ways county government can help small businesses thrive alongside larger developments.
#1: Streamline the permitting process so entrepreneurs can open and expand without unnecessary delays.
#2: Make sure small business owners have clear and easy access to any available tax incentives or savings programs.
#3: Look at zoning flexibility by updating zoning codes to encourage responsible mixed-use development and give businesses room to grow as the community grows.
#4: Infrastructure investment is critical. That means proactively improving utilities, high-speed internet, and transportation so expanding areas remain accessible and supportive for local businesses.
Strong small businesses are the backbone of a healthy local economy, and county government should be working to remove barriers — not create them.
Q: What do you feel are the most critical infrastructure projects for District 5 (and what's the best way to prioritize them)?
The priority is addressing road damage and erosion caused by the recent winter ice storms. Several county roads need attention, including Murfreesboro Road, Clovercroft Road, and Nolensville Road, along with other areas that experienced significant wear from the storms.
We also need to focus on key traffic improvements. The intersection near York Road and Nolensville Road is an area where expansion and traffic management improvements will be important as the population continues to grow.
Looking ahead, we also need to plan for the future of our schools. Nolensville schools already have expansion plans projected around 2029 to accommodate the growing population, and infrastructure planning today needs to support that growth.
The best way to prioritize projects is by focusing first on safety and maintenance, then addressing traffic flow and congestion, and finally planning ahead for future community needs like schools and supporting infrastructure.
Q: How will your belief that leadership is "stewardship, not ambition" guide your decision-making on tough votes?
Leadership as stewardship comes directly from my Christian faith. At its core, stewardship means faithfully managing what has been entrusted to you. That principle guides how I approach leadership and public service.
My first priority is honoring God by serving with integrity, humility, and responsibility. My ambition isn’t about holding a title or gaining influence — it’s about serving the people of District 5 and representing them well.
When difficult votes come before the commission, that perspective reminds me that the role isn’t about personal gain or politics. It’s about making decisions that are responsible, transparent, and in the best long-term interest of the community we’ve been entrusted to serve.
Q: How can a County Commissioner best support and strengthen Williamson County families?
First, county government must help ensure a safe and stable environment where families can thrive. Public safety and strong community infrastructure are foundational to a healthy community.
Second, we should continue investing in parks, recreation, libraries, and community spaces that give families safe places to gather, stay active, and build community connections.
We also need to support the local workforce by helping small businesses thrive, since they provide many of the jobs that support our families. And of course, strong public schools are essential — that means supporting programs like sports, band, and the teachers who invest so much in our children’s future.
When we focus on safety, opportunity, and strong schools, we create the kind of community where families want to put down roots and stay for generations.
Q: What's the best way for the Commission to balance funding top-tier school facilities with the financial burden on taxpayers?
It starts with accountability and careful planning. We have to ask the right questions: What are the actual needs? What resources do we have available? And what will it realistically take to fund and maintain top-tier school facilities?
Many people don’t realize that roughly 70 percent of the county budget is already dedicated to maintaining and growing our school system. That represents a significant investment by taxpayers.
Because of that, it’s critical that we act as wise stewards of those resources. That means planning ahead, prioritizing projects responsibly, and ensuring that every dollar spent on education is used efficiently so we can support excellent schools while also protecting taxpayers from unnecessary financial burden.
Q: Are there any changes you would advocate to make the County Commission’s actions more transparent to the average resident? If so, what?
Yes. Transparency starts with communication. As a commissioner, I believe it’s important to be proactive in explaining the issues that come before the commission, so residents understand what decisions are being made and why.
One way I plan to do that is through regular updates to the community. I intend to host a podcast where I can walk through the issues in front of the commission, explain upcoming votes, and provide context that residents may not hear in a formal meeting.
I also plan to publish a regular newsletter for District 5 residents that recaps key initiatives, commission meetings, and important project timelines. My goal is to build an engaged audience of residents who stay informed about what their county government is doing and how it impacts their community.
Q: Four years from now, your first term is over, what will success look like to you?
Four years from now, success would mean we’ve made meaningful progress in strengthening the county’s financial position. That includes reducing our county debt, which is currently around $1.2 billion, and lowering the cost of servicing that debt so we can free up resources for essential priorities.
It would also mean continuing to invest in and expand our excellent school system through responsible budgeting and careful planning with the resources we have available.
I would also want to see measurable improvements in our roads and infrastructure to keep pace with our growth.
And finally, success would mean making Williamson County the number one place for small businesses to start, grow, and expand — because strong local businesses are essential to a healthy and thriving community.
Q: How can citizens reach you? (or) How will you be accessible and responsive to District 5 residents after the election?
Residents can reach me directly by email, my Facebook page vote4marlin or by phone (info below).
I will also continue hosting meet-and-greet events at local businesses throughout Nolensville and Arrington leading up to early voting and through Election Day.
My goal is to keep communication open and make it easy for District 5 residents to share their concerns, ideas, and feedback.
After the election, I will communicate all my contact information (website, social, email and phone) to the community, so they have the ability to voice any concerns that they have.
To learn more about Marlin’s campaign and his stance on different issues in Williamson County, you can view his campaign website here: vote4marlinjackson.com.
To connect with Marlin directly:
Email: info@vote4marlinjackson.com
Call or Text: 615-861-1207
Facebook: Vote4Marlin
You can also view all the information on the upcoming Elections here.
If you’re not sure if which district you reside in, check out our Maps here.
