Todd Kaestner, the Tennessee healthcare executive and former county commissioner, on Tuesday announced his candidacy to become the next Mayor of Williamson County with a press release confirming he seeded his campaign bank account with $250,000.
Noting that Mayor Rogers Anderson announced he will not seek another term last month, Kaestner said he will seek to “build on what Anderson and the County Commission have accomplished” for Williamson County.
“To show our commitment to securing victory for Williamson County’s future, I’ve seeded my campaign with $250,000,” stated Kaestner, who said the money means that his campaign “will not be resource constrained,” as he works “to secure the support and trust of Williamson County voters.”
Kaestner (pictured above) also said that his administration would work to keep Williamson County distinct from Nashville, which he characterized by “crime, unfettered illegal immigration,” and “high taxes.”
“We must protect Williamson County by ensuring Nashville’s problems never become our own,” said Kaestner. “Williamson County is obviously growing, but we must ensure we preserve the very things that make our county so attractive in the first place.”
Kaestner’s press release additionally stated that he plans to step down from his company, Brookdale, to begin campaigning on a full-time basis at the end of September.
“With a lean county government, low taxes, smart growth and infrastructure, safe streets, and world-class public and private schools, we will protect Williamson County from external threats and those who seek to change it,” said the candidate.
Formerly a member of the Williamson County Commission for five years, Kaestner said in 2017 that the Williamson County Medical Center should be sold to avoid raising property taxes. The hospital was never ultimately sold and has since expanded and rebranded as Williamson Health. A potential sale was discussed as recently as July.
Williamson County will hold its general election on August 6, 2026, coinciding with Tennessee’s primary election to select candidates for governor.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo ” Todd Kaestner” by Angie Hairrell Brown. Background Photo “Williamson County Courthouse” by Ichabod. CC BY-SA 3.0.
