Meet Kingston Springs’ new mayor: Q&A with Todd Verhoven

The Town of Kingston Springs inducted its first new mayor in a decade during its monthly meeting in December, welcoming Commissioner Todd Verhoven as its official leader.  

Former Mayor Tony Gross did not seek reelection after serving in the town’s top post since 2014. Verhoven was elected to serve as a city commissioner in 2022. His seat will be up for reelection in 2026.

Verhoven and his wife, Sylvia, moved to Kingston Springs nine years ago to raise their four kids. Originally hailing from Wisconsin, Verhoven has been in the Nashville area – where his wife was born and raised – for nearly two decades. In his full-time job, Verhoven serves as the vice president of sales for Hunt Brothers Pizza. 

Verhoven moved to Kingston Springs nearly one decade ago to raise his family. He was elected as a commissioner in 2022. / Todd Verhoven

The Kingston Springs Gazette (KSG) sat down with the town’s new mayor to learn more about his priorities over the next two years. The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.  

KSG: You’re the first new mayor in Kingston Springs in a decade. What inspired you to run for office, and what does this role mean to you personally? 

Verhoven: I became interested in how the town was managed and the overall long-term vision of Kingston Springs. At that time, I decided to reach out to other commissioners and [former Mayor] Tony Gross. They encouraged me to attend meetings, and I was later appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals and then to the Planning Commission. I ran for commissioner two years later and was elected. I have been a commissioner for two years now and was honored to be appointed mayor for this next term.

KSG: What is your overall vision for Kingston Springs over the course of your term, and how do you plan to implement it?   

Verhoven: Kingston Springs is an incredible place to call home. As a small town close to Nashville, we must ensure we do not lose what makes this community so special. While growth and change are inevitable, we must manage that growth to align with our small town character and infrastructure.  

KSG: What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing Kingston Springs residents today, and how will you address them during your term? 

Verhoven: The biggest issue the town faces today is its infrastructure. We have an aging sewer system that requires significant repair. The town has developed a plan and begun the process of identifying the major issues and the best ways to address them. This will be a major focus for the next four years, along with implementing preventative maintenance plans to ensure we can mitigate future issues of this scale. The other major projects are continuing to repair and re-pave aging roads. 

KSG: What are your top three priorities for your first term as mayor, and how do you plan to achieve them?

Verhoven: First, I want to maintain a strong town staff and team. This town is fortunate to have employees who wear multiple hats and go above and beyond in many areas. We are a small town with a police force that works diligently to ensure they are part of the community, not just policing it. We also have many excellent community members and staff who are part of the volunteer fire department. It’s all those people who play a significant role in making Kingston Springs what it is. I want to ensure we continue to support them and provide the resources they need to assist our citizens. 

Second, infrastructure such as sewers and roads are also very high on the list.

Finally, I want to revitalize downtown Kingston Springs. This is starting to progress, but I have been passionate about ensuring we improve downtown and minimize vacancy within our limited control. I believe we have great businesses downtown already, and I’d love to see more that complement each other and are supported by the community. I would love to see great businesses that help continue to grow and develop our community.

KSG: What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind after your time as mayor? 

Verhoven: This town has been in great hands for a long time. I hope to leave behind strong working relationships, collaboration and communication with the board and town staff. I hope to leave Kingston Springs as good as or better than when I came into this role and tackle some of the issues we face as quickly as possible. 

KSG: If Kingston Springs could look very different in 10 to 15 years, what would that future look like under your leadership?

Verhoven: Change and growth are nearly impossible to stop. In 10 to 15 years, this town will be different, I am certain, just as it was 10 to 15 years ago. My goal is to ensure that we control what growth looks like here in Kingston Springs by remembering what makes us special. When change does occur, we need the right kind of strategic growth to support our town, its infrastructure and its people. 

The Kingston Springs Board of Commissioners holds its regularly scheduled meeting on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in City Hall’s Beck Building. The public is invited to attend.