Oak Ridge Today

Twenty-nine qualify to run for 16 seats on Anderson County Commission

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Twenty-nine candidates have qualified to run for 16 seats on the Anderson County Commission in the county general election in August.

There are also three people running for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33, a new appointed Oak Ridge school board member running in a special election in August, and a Democratic challenger to Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge resident who is also lieutenant governor.

The deadline to qualify to run in the August 2 election, which will also feature contested elections for Anderson County sheriff and trustee, was noon Thursday.

Anderson County has eight County Commission districts, and there are two commissioners per district. The offices are non-partisan, meaning that, unlike some other county offices, they are not part of the Democratic and Republican primary elections on May 1. [Read more…]

Tonight: Republican Party candidates forum in Oak Ridge

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Anderson County Republican Party Primary Candidates Forum April 3 2018

The Anderson County Republican Party has a candidates forum in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday, April 3).

The forum will feature candidates for these seven Anderson County offices: mayor, sheriff, circuit court clerk, clerk, trustee, register of deeds, and road superintendent. The candidates are running in the May 1 Anderson County Republican Party primary.

The forum will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Wildcat Den at 102 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for light refreshments, seating, and mingling with Republican primary candidates, a press release said. [Read more…]

Candidate forum for Anderson County mayor is Monday

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Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building

The Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building is pictured above on the Roane State Community College campus in Oak Ridge.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Committee will be hosting a series of candidate forums during the election season.

The first forum, which is Monday evening, will be for candidates running for the office of Anderson County mayor. Both candidates for the Republican nomination, Steve Emert and Terry Frank, will participate, a press release said.

The Anderson County mayor’s race will be determined in the May 1 primary because there are no Democrats running for the office.

Monday’s forum is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. April 2 at Roane State Community College’s Goff Building in Oak Ridge. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. All candidate forums are free and open to the public. [Read more…]

Ben Stephens appointed to Oak Ridge school board

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Ben Stephens

Ben Stephens

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday appointed Benjamin Stephens to fill the seat being vacated by Vice Chair Robert S. Eby, who is resigning at the end of March in order to serve on the Tennessee State Board of Education.

Stephens will serve through the county election in August. The winning candidate in that election will then serve through the November election, which will have candidates for municipal, state, and federal offices.

Stephens is manager of academic partnerships at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has been involved in community activities, and he serves on the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission.

At Monday’s meeting, BOE member Angi Agle said she and Laura McLean, another board member, served on a 2020 Committee with Stephens and were impressed with his service there.

Stephens said he has worked with the board on several strategic plans, and he is honored to serve on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. [Read more…]

Tonight: Learn about candidates, campaigns at Democratic Women’s Club Meeting

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Will Winters

Wil Winters

You can learn about campaigning and meet Democratic candidates running for county and state offices in Oak Ridge tonight, a press release said.

“Join the Blue Wave Campaign, learn how volunteers can campaign effectively, and meet the Democratic candidates running for county and state offices,” the press release said.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club has invited candidates running for any office in Anderson County, from county sheriff to state governor, to attend or send a campaign representative to the meeting, the press release said. [Read more…]

Breakfast with Legislators is Monday

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The next Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday. It’s hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

Tennessee senators Randy McNally and Ken Yager and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to speak about this session of the Tennessee General Assembly, and respond to questions and hear opinions from the audience, a press release said. The public is invited to attend.

The meeting will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.  A free continental breakfast will be served, the press release said. [Read more…]

Knox County sheriff candidates to participate in forum on Tuesday

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There is a forum for candidates for Knox County sheriff on Tuesday. It’s hosted by the League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County and the Alpha Mu Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Both candidates have confirmed attendance, a press release said. They are Tom Spangler and Lee Tramel.

Oak Ridge is near Knox County. Solway, just across the Clinch River from Oak Ridge on Pellissippi Parkway, is in west Knox County.

Tuesday’s forum is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. at Knoxville Public Works Center, which is at 3131 Morris Avenue Northwest in Knoxville.

Anderson County Chamber hosts county election candidate forum

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The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum in Clinton this month for candidates in the Anderson County primary election in May.

The candidate forum will be moderated by Gene Patterson, community relations lead for Consolidated Nuclear Security, which manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The candidate forum will be hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Government/Community Relations Committee. It is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at The Ritz Theater at 119 North Main Street in downtown Clinton. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the concession stand will be open, a press release said. [Read more…]

Voters invited to meet candidates for county offices

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Democracy for East Tennessee April 5 2018 Meet Candidates Event

Oak Ridge voters are invited to a Meet the Candidates event on Thursday, April 5, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, a press release said. The event is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Social Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“Democracy for East Tennessee is sponsoring this event so residents of Anderson County can become better acquainted with the candidates for offices in the upcoming May 1 primary election,” a press release said.

Early voting begins April 11. The offices on the primary ballot are Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, County Mayor, Register of Deeds, Road Superintendent, Sheriff, and Trustee. [Read more…]

Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley of Oak Ridge dies at 63

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Steve Kelley

Steve Kelley

 

Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley, an Oak Ridge resident, died Wednesday evening, February 21. He was 63.

Kelley, who lived on Oklahoma Avenue in Oak Ridge, represented District 4 on the Roane County Commission. That district includes the Oak Hills, Oliver Springs, and Orchard View voting precincts. Oak Hills is in west Oak Ridge.

Kelley was on the Budget Committee appointed by Roane County Executive Ron Woody.

“He was a great Budget Committee member,” Woody said Sunday. “He will be dearly missed as a Budget Committee member and as a Roane County Commissioner.” [Read more…]

Anderson County Democratic Party celebrating Black History Month tonight

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Ebony Capshaw

Ebony Capshaw

 

The Anderson County Democratic Party will celebrate Black History Month at its meeting and potluck from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 22, at the Claxton Community Center, a press release said. The guests will include a candidate for Anderson County trustee.

Everyone is encouraged to bring a main dish, side dish, or dessert to share for the potluck, the press release said.

“However, as always, all are welcome, and bringing food is optional,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Arowood running for Anderson County clerk

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Leesa Arowood

Leesa Arowood

 

After many years of working as a grass-roots Republican, Leesa Arowood has announced her candidacy for Anderson County clerk, a press release said.

“I’ve lived in Anderson County for almost 25 years and have always been a Republican,” Arowood said in the press release. “As a businesswoman, not a politician, I look forward to giving back to my community by making our County Clerk’s Office the most efficient in Tennessee.”

Arowood is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and she worked as an administrative manager for Oak Ridge Associated Universities for more than 15 years before managing her own real estate practice in Anderson County. She has worked in various other business operations in Anderson County for many years and is a member of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, the press release said. She is also a long-time member of Second Baptist Church in Clinton. [Read more…]