The Harriman City Council voted during a special-called session on Tuesday afternoon to move forward with hiring Tara Stockton as the city’s next city manager.

The meeting, delayed an hour to 5:00 p.m. to accommodate council schedules, concluded with unanimous authorization for Mayor Wayne Best to begin contract negotiations with Stockton. If an agreement is finalized, Stockton could step into the role as early as next week.

Stockton is a well-known figure in Roane County. She is married to Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton, previously served a four-year term on the Kingston City Council, and brings substantial leadership experience from her years working as a regional manager for McDonald’s in East Tennessee.

With the council’s approval, the hiring process now enters the contract negotiation phase, with a final agreement expected soon.