COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Former Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said he will not run for office in the August 2026 election.
Shelton shared the announcement in a Facebook post, saying the decision came after prayer and conversations with his wife, Shannon.
Shelton served on the Cookeville City Council from 2002 to 2010 and later as mayor from 2014 to 2022. He said serving the city has been one of the greatest honors of his life.
“After heartfelt conversations with Shannon and seeking God’s clear guidance and perfect timing, we have discerned that this is not the season for me to seek elected office again,” Shelton wrote.
Shelton thanked supporters who had encouraged him to run again. He added that although he will not be seeking office, he plans to remain involved in the community and continue serving Cookeville in other ways.
September 11, 2001 is a day most associate with terror and tragedy. Austin Pollack shares a story from that day about hope and persistence: the effort to save a little girl’s life – with an organ donation. The problem? The young patient was in Houston, and her life-saving liver here in Nashville. With the grounding of all civilian aircraft, how could it be done? “Nobody ever said this isn’t possible.”
- Rhori Johnston
