06/12/2026
🇺🇸 Candidate Spotlight - City of Cookeville - Chad Gilbert, Councilman
Chad Gilbert is a Christian, husband, father, successful business owner, conservative member of the Cookeville City Council, and is endorsed by the Putnam County Republican Party. Raised in Cookeville by two schoolteachers, Chad learned the values of hard work, faith, and responsibility while growing up on his family’s farm on Buck Mountain.
A graduate of Tennessee Tech University with a degree in Civil Engineering, he built his career in engineering, construction, and agriculture, becoming a founding partner of Putnam Contracting Services and Putnam Properties. He
also serves as a deacon in his church and has previously served on the Planning Commission and the board of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
Chad and his wife, Anna, met at Tennessee Tech and raised their three children—Ali Jane, Riley, and Cooper—in the same
community that shaped their lives. With deep local roots and a
lifelong commitment to Cookeville, Chad is dedicated to
responsible growth, strong neighborhoods, and preserving the
values that make the community a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
As a City Council member, he continues to bring a practical, conservative, and forward-thinking approach to serving the citizens of Cookeville. Chad is focused on three areas for the upcoming election:
Keeping Residents Safe – Cookeville must always have the best trained and equipped police officers and fire fighters to respond to crime, disasters, and other emergencies that may occur in our community.
Investing in Infrastructure – Continue to invest in improvements of our streets and roads, and the reliability of our utilities, while partnering with the county and the state to find innovative and new ways to alleviate congestion and keep drivers moving.
Protecting Cookeville’s Taxpayers – Maintain the conservative financial management principles that guard your tax dollars by keeping the city budget balanced and by making smart decisions to properly provide essential services throughout our city.