FRANKLIN
Low attendance for a town hall meeting sponsored by a Franklin city councilman and mayoral candidate Greg McLemore compelled him to cancel the gathering.

At 6 p.m. on Saturday when the program was scheduled to begin, only three people were present, including McLemore, who organized the event. They were also waiting for someone to open the doors to the meeting site at Franklin High School.

The Ward 3 representative, who is running for mayor, said he invited fellow councilman and mayoral candidate Frank Rabil of Ward 6.

Council candidates Mona Murphy of Ward 4 and challenger Linwood Johnson were also welcomed to speak with the public on various city-related issues.

None of the other candidates were apparently able to attend the event on Saturday night.

Eventually about 10 to 15 more people showed up, but McLemore felt that the absence of the other invitees required him to cancel the meeting.

The councilman said on Monday that he regrets not staying longer, as people from several different wards were there.

He added that the meeting was not intended as a rally just for himself.