• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Frank, White re-elected; incumbents fare well, but some upsets

Posted at 9:45 pm August 7, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Steve Mead at Early Voting

Anderson County Commissioner Steve Mead, one of the incumbents re-elected Thursday, campaigns during early voting at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Fred O’Hara Jr.)

 

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Note: This story was last updated at 2:10 p.m. July 8.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was elected to her first four-year term on Thursday, and Sheriff Paul White was elected to a third term.

The election featured several close races, including for sheriff and register of deeds, and there were a few upsets, including for Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk, County Commission District 3, and General Sessions Judge, Division II, where longtime Judge Ron Murch suffered defeat.

Paul White

Paul White

In the race for the Tennessee House, Representative John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, beat back a primary challenge by newcomer Caitlin Nolan.

All 27 precincts have reported.

Here are the final unofficial election results for contested races:

Anderson County Mayor

  • Terry Frank, the Republican incumbent—7,586 (52.69 percent)
  • Jim Hackworth, a Democrat—6,193 (43.01 percent)
  • Bradley Rickett, an Independent—619 (4.3 percent)

Frank, who was first elected to a two-year term in a special election in August 2012, beat Hackworth, a former state representative and county commissioner, by about 1,400 votes. The two fought over a 1990 tax hike and “turmoil” and lawsuits in the Anderson County Courthouse.

Anderson County Sheriff

  • Paul White, the Democratic incumbent—7,386 (51.64 percent)
  • Anthony Lay, a Republican—6,918 (48.36 percent)

White’s margin of victory was just under 500 votes. Lay is a former sheriff in Scott County, and he is currently a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper. The two candidates battled over the food served at the Anderson County jail, crime rate statistics, and the responsiveness of the Sheriff’s Department, among other things.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 33

Republican primary

  • John Ragan, the incumbent—4,487 (54.68 percent)
  • Caitlin Nolan, his challenger—3,719 (45.32 percent)

Ragan and Nolan battled over his record and qualifications, her experience, and his stance on issues related to children, education, and bullying.

It’s not clear who Ragan might face in the November general election. Misty Neergaard, his Democratic opponent, has dropped out of the race, but she withdrew too late to take her name off the Thursday ballot. Oak Ridge resident Leslie Agron was a Democratic write-in candidate, but he picked up less than 100 votes. The next step could be up to the state Democratic Party.

Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge

  • Brian Hunt (R)—8,810 (65.45 percent)
  • Michael Clement (D)—4,650 (34.55 percent)

Hunt and Clement are both Clinton attorneys. Hunt will replace Brandon Fisher, who had initially announced a run for Anderson County chancellor but has instead accepted a job with a nonprofit mental health provider in Pennsylvania.

Anderson County General Sessions Judge, Division I

  • Don Layton, the Republican incumbent—8,628 (63.6 percent)
  • Ryan Spitzer, the Democratic challenger—4,939 (36.40 percent)

Layton is well-known and, although Spitzer knocked on many doors and challenged Layton on several fronts, the incumbent beat the challenger by about 3,700 votes. Spitzer is an assistant district attorney general in Anderson County.

This will be Layton’s third term; he has been sessions judge since 1998.

Anderson County General Sessions Judge, Division II

  • Roger Miller, the Republican challenger—6,986 (53.27 percent)
  • Ron Murch, the Democratic incumbent—6,129 (46.73 percent)

This may be one of the biggest surprises of the election. Murch has been general sessions judge since 1993, while Miller, a Clinton attorney who has previously sought public office, seemed to run a low-profile campaign.

Anderson County Register of Deeds

  • Tim Shelton, the Democratic incumbent—6,984 (50.99 percent)
  • Bill Gallaher, the Republican challenger—6,712 (49.01 percent)

This appears to be the closest race of the night, with Shelton hanging on by about 270 votes. The two men waged a heated battle over spending in the Register of Deeds Office.

Gallaher is a local business owner and insurance executive who served as president of Clinton Tire and Oil Co. Inc. from 1980 until 2005.

Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk

  • William Jones, the Republican challenger—7,163 (54.45 percent)
  • Tyler Mayes, the Democratic incumbent—5,993 (45.55 percent)

This was another upset. Mayes was appointed to the job in October 2012 to serve on an interim basis through this election. He replaced longtime clerk Barry Pellizari.

Anderson County Commission, District 6 (Oak Ridge City Hall, Robertsville, West Hills)

Vote for two

  • Steve Mead—682 (33.75 percent)
  • Whitey Hitchcock—549 (27.16 percent)
  • Anthony Allen—454 (22.46 percent)
  • Joey Anderson—336 (16.63 percent)

Mead and Hitchcock are both incumbents.

Anderson County Commission, District 7 (Glenwood, Highland View, Pine Valley)

Vote for two

  • Jerry Creasey—803 (32.29 percent)
  • Theresa Scott—531 (21.35 percent)
  • Mike Marsh—379 (15.24 percent)
  • Jimmy Bouchard—358 (14.39 percent)
  • Denny Phillips—306 (12.3 percent)
  • Kevin Rice—110 (4.42 percent)

Creasey is an incumbent. The other incumbent, John Shuey, did not seek re-election. It’s Scott’s second run for commission.

Anderson County Commission, District 8 (Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek, Woodland)

Vote for two

  • Myron Iwanski—1,297 (40.35 percent)
  • Robin Biloski—1,145 (35.63 percent)
  • Myra Mansfield—772 (24.02 percent)

Iwanski and Biloski are the incumbents. Biloski is also vice chair of the commission, and Iwanski is the parliamentarian.

Anderson County Commission, District 1 (Claxton, Bull Run)

Vote for two

  • Tracy Wandell—838 (31.62 percent)
  • Chuck Fritts—826 (31.17 percent)
  • Floyd Grisham—718 (27.09 percent)
  • Walt Lounsbery—268 (10.11 percent)

Wandell and Fritts are the incumbents. Fritts is also county commission chair.

Anderson County Commission, District 3 (Norris, Andersonville)

Vote for two

  • Steve Emert—1,040 (29 percent)
  • Philip Warfield—838 (23.37 percent)
  • Josh Anderson—768 (21.42 percent)
  • Dusty Irwin—638 (17.79 percent)
  • David Farmer—302 (8.42 percent)

Emert and Irwin were the incumbents, so this was another upset. Irwin has served as parliamentarian of the commission. He was the only incumbent commissioner defeated in the election.

Warfield is an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Anderson County Career and Technical Center.

Anderson County Commission, District 4 (Lake City, Briceville, Rosedale)

Vote for two

  • Tim Isbel—950 (45.09 percent)
  • Chris Phillips—607 (28.81 percent)
  • Herb “Herbie” Foust—366 (17.37 percent)
  • Allen C.H. Loope—184 (8.73 percent)

Isbel is an incumbent. The other incumbent, Zach Bates, who challenged Frank in the Republican primary in May, did not seek re-election.

Phillips is the former budget director for Anderson County and current city recorder in Lake City/Rocky Top.

Anderson County Commission, District 5 (Dutch Valley, Marlow, Norwood)

Vote for two

  • Jerry White—876 (36.17 percent)
  • Robert McKamey—690 (28.49 percent)
  • Lynn Byrge—433 (17.46 percent)
  • Carl Beaty—423 (17.46 percent)

White and McKamey are the incumbents. Byrge helped lead the effort to install “In God We Trust” signs on the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton, and he is a petitioner in an ouster suit filed against Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager.

Anderson County School Board, District 7

  • Don Bell—820 (63.66 percent)
  • Steve Fritts—468 (36.34 percent)

Fritts is the incumbent, so this was another upset. Bell retired from the Oak Ridge school system in 2013, and he had worked in the maintenance and operations division at Glenwood Elementary School.

Candidates who did not have any opposition included Circuit and Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge, District Attorney General Dave Clark, Public Defender Tom Marshall, Trustee Rodney Archer, County Clerk Jeff Cole, Road Superintendent Gary Long, and Nicki Cantrell, the only remaining candidate for Anderson County chancellor.

Incumbents Mark Alderson and Rick Meredith had no opposition in Anderson County Commission’s District 2 in Clinton. Neither did incumbent Scott Gillenwaters in the Anderson County School Board’s 7th District.

State Senator Randy McNally of Tennessee’s Fifth District also did not have any opposition in the state Republican primary, and he does not have a Democratic opponent in the November election.

In Oliver Springs, City Judge/Recorder Joseph Van Hook and Court Clerk/Finance Officer Ramona Walker were also unopposed.

See the complete results here: Anderson County 2014 Election Results.

See the precinct results here: Anderson County Precinct Results August 2014 Election.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Filed Under: 2014 Election, 2014 Election, Anderson County, Government, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Allen C.H. Loope, Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Anthony Allen, Anthony Lay, Bill Gallaher, Bradley Rickett, Brian Hunt, Caitlin Nolan, Carl Beaty, Chris Phillips, Chuck Fleischmann, Chuck Fritts, Circuit Court Clerk, Dave Clark, David Farmer, Denny Phillips, Don Elledge, Don Layton, Dusty Irwin, election results, Floyd Grisham, Gary Long, general election, General Sessions Judge, Herb “Herbie” Foust, Jeff Cole, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jim Hackworth, Jimmy Bouchard, Joey Anderson, John Ragan, Josh Anderson, juvenile court judge, Kevin Rice, Leslie Agron, Lynn Byrge, Mark Alderson, mayor, Michael Clement, Mike Marsh, Misty Neergaard, Myra Mansfield, Myron Iwanski, Nicki Cantrell, Paul White, Philip Warfield, Randy McNally, register of deeds, Rick Meredith, Robert McKamey, Robin Biloski, Rodney Archer, Roger Miller, Ron Murch, Ryan Spitzer, school board, Scott Gillenwaters, sheriff, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Tennessee House of Representatives, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Shelton, Tom Marshall, Tracy Wandell, Tyler Mayes, Walt Lounsbery, Whitey Hitchcock, William Jones

Comments

  1. Levi D. Smith says

    August 7, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    Thanks for the results!

    Reply
    • johnhuotari says

      August 8, 2014 at 12:21 am

      You’re welcome, Levi.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Government News

Election is Thursday

The Anderson County general election and state and federal primary elections are Thursday. Competitive races include the Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, Republican primary for Tennessee House of … [Read More...]

Kairos Power begins construction on demonstration reactor​

Kairos Power has started construction on a test nuclear reactor in west Oak Ridge. The Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor is the first of its type to be approved for construction by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory … [Read More...]

County law director dies at 65

Anderson County Law Director Nicholas “Jay” Yeager, of Clinton, died Friday. He was 65. Yeager was assistant attorney in Anderson County from 2001 to 2006, and he has been law director since then. "Mr. Yeager was … [Read More...]

Outdoor Pool to close for season Aug. 12

Indoor Pool to re-open Monday The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool will closed for the season on Monday, August 12, and the Indoor Pool will re-open Monday, July 29, after being closed for a few months for renovations. The … [Read More...]

Tennis court dances recreate wartime event

Monthly dances by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park recreate the open-air tennis court dances that entertained 75,000 workers and their families in the Secret City during World War II. "Put on your … [Read More...]

More Government

More 2014 Election News

Oak Ridge City Council November 2014

Gooch elected mayor, Smith mayor pro tem

  Note: This story was last updated at 9 a.m. Nov. 25. New Oak Ridge City Council member Warren Gooch has been appointed mayor, and returning City Council member Ellen Smith has been elected mayor pro … [Read More...]

City of Oak Ridge Seal

Four City Council members say they’d like to be mayor

Note: This story was updated at 3:03 p.m. Four members of the new Oak Ridge City Council that starts Monday have announced that they would like to be mayor. One would like to also be considered for mayor pro … [Read More...]

Rick Chinn

Letter: Chinn wants to be mayor, help attract new families, industries

City Manager Mark Watson and honorable members of Oak Ridge City Council, First, I would like to congratulate the new members elected to Council and express my enthusiasm in working with the three sitting members … [Read More...]

Ellen Smith

Letter: Smith seeks mayor, mayor pro tem spot; cites experience, knowledge

Fellow members of the Oak Ridge City Council: I respectfully request that you consider me as a candidate for the positions of mayor and mayor pro tem when the new Council convenes on Monday, November 24. This is in … [Read More...]

Warren L. Gooch

Letter: Gooch wants to be mayor, make city efficient, business-friendly

Dear City Council colleagues, I am submitting this letter to express my interest in being elected mayor. I believe our next mayor must provide bold leadership, vision, energy, and a commitment to excellence in our … [Read More...]

More 2014 Election

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Search Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today