Oak Ridge Today

Marshall resigns from school board

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Paige Marshall

Paige Marshall

Oak Ridge Board of Education member Paige Marshall resigned from the school board on Thursday.

Marshall and her family are moving to North Carolina for a new job, BOE Chair Keys Fillauer said Friday.

In her resignation letter on Thursday, Marshall expressed sadness and deep appreciation.

“I am sad to leave a wonderful school district in Oak Ridge and the wonderful people on the Board of Education as well as our wonderful Oak Ridge Schools staff and students,” Marshall said. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve our community. I wish you all the best as you and the rest of the board work to keep the Oak Ridge Schools the finest in the state.”

Elected in November 2014, Marshall’s four-year term expires this November, when there are three open seats on the five-member school board. [Read more…]

Roane: Woody re-elected as county executive; Bowers wins Commission seat

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Ron Woody

Ron Woody

Roane County Executive Ron Woody was re-elected to a third four-year term as county executive on Thursday, and Charlotte Bowers of Oak Ridge won one of two seats on Roane County Commission in District 4, which includes west Oak Ridge.

Woody was first elected to his office in August 2010. On Thursday, he beat challenger David Morgan, a former Roane County property assessor, 8,217 votes to 3,113 (72.52 percent to 27.48 percent). That’s according to unofficial election results reported after all 24 precincts had been counted.

Bowers, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, was one of two Oak Ridge candidates to run for the District 4 seat on Roane County Commission in the August 2 election. The other was Cory Jenkins, general manager at Cumberland Utility District. They were among five candidates who qualified to run in the district.

The other three candidates were from Oliver Springs. They were James W. Brummett, an incumbent, and Thaxton H. “T.H.” Brown Jr. and Jerry W. White.

Brummett, a former chair of the Roane County Commission, was defeated Thursday, finishing third behind Bowers and White, who is also a new commissioner. (There is now a Jerry White on Anderson County Commission, and a Jerry White on the Roane County Commission; they are not the same person.) White has worked at K-25 and Y-12 in Oak Ridge, and he is currently employed providing security for the Roane County Sheriff’s Office at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston. [Read more…]

Anderson: Barker elected sheriff; incumbents win in Oak Ridge

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Russell Barker

Russell Barker

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3.

Russell Barker, a Republican, won the race for Anderson County sheriff on Thursday, beating Mark Lucas, a Democrat, in a race decided by about 2,000 votes, according to unofficial results.

Meanwhile, four incumbents were re-elected in two Anderson County Commission districts where there was a challenger in Oak Ridge.

Barker is a detective sergeant with the Clinton Police Department who has served as director of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County. Lucas is chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

Barker had 7,684 votes (57.79 percent), compared to 5,613 votes (42.21 percent) for Lucas, according to the unofficial results posted after all 27 precincts had been counted Thursday night.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White is retiring at the end of his third four-year term, and he did not seek re-election.

In another contested race, Regina Copeland, the Republican director of the 911 center, defeated Ebony Capshaw, a Democrat, by a 69.74 percent to 30.26 percent margin (8,981 votes to 3,987). The last elected trustee, Rodney Archer, is now executive director of the County Officials Association of Tennessee, and Myron Iwanski, a former county commissioner and commission chair appointed to the trustee job through this August election, did not seek the job in the election. [Read more…]

Barker leads in early, absentee voting for sheriff

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Russell Barker

Russell Barker

Note: This story was last updated at 8:50 p.m.

Russell Barker, who has served as director of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County, leads in early and absentee voting for Anderson County sheriff, with a roughly 56-44 percent margin over Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, according to unofficial results released Thursday evening after polls closed and before any precincts had been counted.

Barker, a Republican, had 4,182 early and absentee votes (55.72 percent), compared to 3,323 (44.28 percent) for Lucas, a Democrat.

It’s not clear if Barker’s lead will hold after all 27 precincts in Anderson County are counted. Early voting leads often or usually predict the eventual winner, but in prior elections, the lead has sometimes narrowed or even reversed. [Read more…]

Sample ballot for August 2 county election, state & federal primaries

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Here is the sample ballot for the August 2 general election in Anderson County. There are also write-in candidates who have been campaigning for some of these offices, although they don’t appear on the ballot.

The county general election includes selections for mayor, sheriff, county commission, trustee, circuit court clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent, and school board, among other positions. Some of the candidates have no opposition. [Read more…]

Voter’s guide: Notes from a candidate forum

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Note: This story was last updated at 10:35 a.m.

Today, August 2, is Election Day in Anderson County. The election includes the Anderson County general election and state and federal primary elections.

It’s the second of three elections this year. The first was the county primary election on May 1, and the last is the municipal election and state and federal elections on November 6.

Here are notes about Anderson County candidates in today’s county general election from a forum at Oak Ridge High School in July. The county general election includes selections for mayor, sheriff, county commission, trustee, circuit court clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent, and school board, among other positions. Some of the candidates have no opposition.

Anderson County Sheriff [Read more…]

Creasey seeks re-election to Anderson County Commission, District 7

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Jerry Creasey (Submitted photo)

Jerry Creasey (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge resident Jerry Creasey is seeking re-election to the Seventh District seat on the Anderson County Commission in the county general election on Thursday, August 2.

Creasey grew up in High Point, North Carolina, where he attended High Point College and graduated from Guildford Technical Institute in Electronics Technology following his four years of service with the United States Air Force as a B-47 Radar and Weapons In-flight Trouble Shooter, a press release said. Coming to Oak Ridge in 1968 to work at the Y-12 plant, Creasey retired as radio systems manager after 27 years of service. He has since been involved with his wife’s small telecommunications business.

Creasey has served as chairman of the Anderson County Commission, as well as chairman of the Legislative, ADA Oversight, Computer, Legislative, and the Veterans Committees. He is presently serving on the ADA Oversight, Broadband, and Budget committees. [Read more…]

Bouchard seeks election to Anderson County Commission District 7

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Jimmy Bouchard is seeking election to the Anderson County Commission to represent District 7, which covers the Glenwood, Pine Valley, and Highland View precincts, a press release said.

In a press release, Bouchard said he is a local small business owner of In & Out Maintenance, a renovation and construction company.

“I am a longtime member of the community where my wife and I are happy to be raising a family,” Bouchard said. “I am married to my best friend, Kelsie, and have two boys Kolton, age six and a rising first-grader at Glenwood Elementary, and Kaison who will be turning two in August. We are also very excited and happy to be welcoming our third boy later this fall. I am an extremely hard-working father and take pride in all my efforts, and I want to work hard for all the families in District 7.” [Read more…]

Catherine Denenberg receives endorsement from Tom Beehan, Kay Brookshire

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Pictured above from left are Kay Brookshire, Catherine Denenberg, and Tom Beehan. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above from left are Kay Brookshire, Catherine Denenberg, and Tom Beehan. (Submitted photo)

 

Former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and his wife, Kay Brookshire, are supporting Anderson County Commissioner Catherine Denenberg in her race to return to her commission seat representing District 6 in Oak Ridge, a press release said. Election day is Thursday, August 2.

“We support Catherine Denenberg because we believe it’s important to have an independent voice representing Oak Ridge on Anderson County Commission,” Beehan said. “She’s a great problem solver, a good listener, and as a County Commissioner, she works well with other commissioners and with those in Oak Ridge city government.”

Denenberg has represented District 6 since Commissioner Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock stepped down from the position early this year. Hitchcock asked her to seek his commission seat, and Denenberg said she was humbled and honored to do so. County Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint her to the seat, the press release said. [Read more…]

Barker endorsed by Ridenour, Whaley

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Pictured above from left are Mark "Hollywood" Whaley, Russell Barker, and Lewis Ridenour. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above from left are Mark “Hollywood” Whaley, Russell Barker, and Lewis Ridenour. (Submitted photo)

 

Russell Barker, the Republican nominee for Anderson County sheriff, has been endorsed by his competitors in the Republican primary in May, Lewis Ridenour and Mark “Hollywood” Whaley, for the county general election on Thursday, August 2, a press release said.

In the release, Barker expressed his excitement to have the support of his primary challengers.

“Lewis and Hollywood are great men who truly want to make a difference in Anderson County,” Barker said. “Having their support is truly an honor.” [Read more…]

Scott seeks re-election to County Commission

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Theresa Scott

Theresa Scott

 

Anderson County Commissioner Theresa Scott is seeking a second term on the County Commission.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the residents of District 7, and I am dedicated to continue to make a positive difference,” Scott said in a press release. “I humbly ask to continue to serve within our county government.”

First elected just four years ago, Scott continues to volunteer within the community through the Neighborhood Watch Program, Oak Ridge Beer Permit Board, the Secret City Civitan Club, and the Lavender and Secret City festivals, as well as other various projects within the city, the press release said.

Since its inception in 2013, Scott remains an active member of Anderson County’s Underage Drinking Task Force and Prescription Medicine Task Force, which are led by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson (ASAP), the press release said. It said ASAP is proactive in educating the public of the harm of misusing alcohol and prescription pain medications. In 2016, Scott received the first runner-up of the Ally of the Year Award. Their prestigious Prevention Power Partner Award is given to a community member who staunchly supports prevention, and Scott said, “I am truly honored to have been named the recipient for 2017-2018.” [Read more…]

Mead seeks re-election to County Commission

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Steve Mead

Steve Mead

 

Steve Mead is seeking re-election to Anderson County Commission in District 6.

The Sixth District includes the Oak Ridge City Hall, Robertsville, and West Hills precincts. Those include the Anderson County portion of Oak Ridge, including the areas around the Children’s Museum, the new Kroger, and Main Street Oak Ridge, and west to the Roane County line.

Mead and his family settled in Oak Ridge in 1987 after he served 21.5 years in the U.S. Submarine Force. Mead had worked his way up from seaman recruit to petty officer first class (E-6), and he was then selected for an active duty college program in which he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a press release said. He returned as an officer to the submarine force, serving both at sea and overseas.

During his last tour as executive officer of a joint staff near London, England, he earned his master’s degree in business administration from Boston University. [Read more…]