The Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have two races consisting of three candidates in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
Incumbent Charles Hall is being challenged by Jason Lederfine and Timothy Goddard for the Position 1 seat on the board. Hall was appointed to Position 1 in January 2025, after the alderman position became vacant due to the town’s resign-to run rule in November 2024.
During that time,Collierville Mayor Maureen Fraser, who held the Position 1 seat, and former alderman Billy Patton, who held the Position 2 seat, ran for mayor in the November 2024 election. Hall has been filling the remainder of Fraser’s term.
Hall, a longtime Collierville resident, and his wife, Laura, own Hewlett & Dunn Boot and Clothing Co. in the historic
Collierville Town Square.
Goddard — whose wife unexpectedly passed away three years ago — said he retired from a 40-year business career to take care of his nine adopted children. When he moved to Collierville 14 years ago, Goddard served as the vice president of human resources for AutoZone and later vice president of store development for the Memphis-based company.
During his career, Goddard’s diverse areas of business included being involved in operations, human resources, finance and store development.
Lederfine, a U.S. Army combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is known for his military and business background. Lederfine said his military service taught him leadership, accountability, teamwork and the importance of making difficult decisions under pressure.
His background also includes business management and operations having worked in local manufacturing facilities for 15 years with extensive experience managing people, budgets, logistics and operations. He also served as chief operating officer of Cage Fury Fighting Championships and director for V3Fights, while helping organize and manage more than 100 live sporting events across the country.
Hall, Goddard and Lederfine all answered a candidate questionnaire from The Commercial Appeal. Their answers are as follows:
Position 1
Charles Hall
Why did you decide to run for re-election?
The main reason is, I want my children to decide to stay here and raise their families. I have the honor of being a multi-generational resident of Collierville, and I want my grandchildren one day to have the privilege to grow up in Collierville as well. In order for this to happen, I feel the duty to ensure Collierville continues to thrive.
Why should the people of Collierville re-elect you?
I have the fortitude to make the correct decision for Collierville’s best interest even when that decision is not popular. I also approach my decision making with the mindset of a small business owner, which is unique in Collierville’s BMA.
What do you want the board to focus on to improve the Town?
The first thing that needs to happen is the ship, if you will, needs to be steadied. From there, we need to improve communication and messaging with our citizens. Collierville is an absolutely top-notch town, and we need to do a better job celebrating and communicating that.
What are the major challenges in Collierville you would like to see addressed?
Other than the points listed in the last answer, we need to be sure to see the town’s 2050 plan through. We have invested in the town’s future with this all-encompassing town plan, and we need to be diligent in finishing and implementing it.
Tim Goddard
Have you ever been involved in politics, and if so, what is your background?
Yes, I was involved in politics in Washington State. I started as a planning commissioner and then was elected to the City Council and finally Mayor of Covington, Washington.
Why did you decide to run?
I chose to run for alderman to bring more transparency to town government. Lately there has been too much negativity, and my goal is to bring common sense and transparency to Town Hall. I also chose to run to bring financial accountability by looking for unnecessary expenses and cutting them out; also by looking for ways to roll back the recent property tax increase passed by the BMA. Finally, I have been concerned that our infrastructure is not keeping up with the explosive growth. I would like to bring my experience in the public and private sectors to help achieve responsible growth with infrastructure improvements that keep up.
Why should the people of Collierville elect you?
I come to the race with both private and public sector experience. My experience as a vice president of human resources and vice president of store development (AutoZone) lends itself nicely with working with Town staff and making informed and beneficial decisions. Also my experience in the public sector fit perfectly with the management of town government. Additionally, I am retired and therefore not beholden to anyone except the citizens of Collierville.
What do you want the board to focus on to improve the Town?
Shoring up public trust through transparency in government. Next, going back and scrutinizing every expense in the budget and determining if there are some that are not necessary. Also look at the revenue side of the equation and work with our vacant commercial property owners to develop the strategy needed to revitalize our open commercial space and attract solid businesses. Next, address our crumbling infrastructure and lay out a path to catch up to our growth. Next, review our menu of services offered to residents of the community and address any areas that are lagging behind. An example of this is the lack of recreational and learning opportunities for our special needs community.
What major challenges in Collierville do you want the board to address?
Clear up the negativity by restoring trust in town government. Work to more properly balance growth with infrastructure improvements. Immediately address the vacancies in the town staff — most notably the fire chief and town administrator.
Jason Lederfine
Have you ever been involved in politics, and if so, what is your background in it?
I previously ran for Collierville alderman in 2024 against John Stamps. Although I was unsuccessful in that election, the experience gave me an opportunity to meet residents, hear their concerns and develop a deeper understanding of the issues facing our town.
I have continued attending public meetings, reviewing town records, researching policies and asking questions about decisions that affect taxpayers.
My involvement in local government is driven by a desire to serve the community rather than pursue a political career.
Why did you decide to run?
I decided to run because I believe Collierville residents deserve a local government that prioritizes transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and meaningful public input.
Over the past several years, I have become increasingly interested in how decisions are made, how taxpayer money is spent, and how growth and development affect our community.
Collierville is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, but maintaining that quality of life requires thoughtful planning and responsible leadership.
I believe residents should have access to information, understand why decisions are being made and feel that their concerns are genuinely considered.
Why should the people of Collierville elect you?
I bring a combination of military leadership, private-sector management experience, and a commitment to transparency and accountability.
Throughout my career, I have been responsible for managing operations, solving problems, working with diverse groups of people, and making decisions with real financial and operational consequences.
My approach to serving on the (Collierville) Board of Mayor and Aldermen would be straightforward: research the issues, ask difficult questions when necessary, listen to residents, and make decisions based on what I believe is in the best interest of Collierville.
I believe elected officials should be accessible to the people they represent and willing to explain their decisions, even when those decisions are unpopular.
I am not running to maintain the status quo. I am running to bring an independent perspective, encourage open discussion, and help ensure our town government remains accountable to its residents.
What do you want the board to focus on to improve the Town?
My primary areas of focus would be:
Transparency and accountability: Making government decisions, financial information, and the reasoning behind major expenditures easier for residents to access and understand.
Fiscal responsibility: Carefully evaluating spending, identifying inefficiencies, and ensuring taxpayers receive value for their money.
Economic development: Attracting new businesses, supporting existing businesses, and working to reduce vacant commercial properties. Keeping more shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities within Collierville can help strengthen our local economy.
Infrastructure: Prioritizing road improvements, traffic congestion, intersection safety, and infrastructure capacity as our town continues to develop.
Responsible growth: Ensuring new development complements Collierville’s character and that schools, roads, public safety, and other essential services can support additional growth.
Public safety and town services: Ensuring our police, fire, and other essential departments have the resources and support necessary to serve our growing community.
I would also like to see greater community participation in the decision-making process, particularly on significant development and financial matters.
What major challenges in Collierville do you want the board to address?
One of our biggest challenges is balancing continued growth with preserving the qualities that make Collierville an attractive place to live.
Development brings economic opportunities, but it also creates demands on roads, schools, emergency services, and infrastructure. We must ensure that our planning keeps pace with growth rather than reacting to problems after they develop.
Another challenge is attracting and retaining businesses. Vacant storefronts and commercial properties represent missed opportunities for economic activity, local employment, and tax revenue.
Traffic congestion and infrastructure improvements also deserve continued attention.
Finally, I believe maintaining public trust in local government is essential. Residents should have confidence that decisions are being made through transparent processes, with proper oversight and consideration of the long-term financial impact.
Check back with The Commercial Appeal to learn about the candidates in suburban races in Shelby County, including Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington.
Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Lederfine, Goddard challenge Hall for Collierville Position 1 seat
