Oak Ridge Today

Gillenwaters running for Anderson County trustee

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Scott Gillenwaters

Scott Gillenwaters

 

Scott Gillenwaters, vice chair of the Anderson County School Board and former Anderson County commissioner, has announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for Anderson County trustee.

Gillenwaters has served eight years on the Anderson County School Board. Currently, he serves as the vice chair and chairs the Budget Committee, a press release said. He has attained a Level IV Boardsmanship Award from the Tennessee School Board Association, the press release said.

Prior to his election to the School Board, Gillenwaters was elected to two terms on the Anderson County Commission, where he was the chair of both the Operations and Legislative Committees, the press release said. During his time on Commission, he was appointed parliamentarian by the Commission twice and served on various other committees. He also served as a regional board member for the Tennessee County Commissioners Association. [Read more…]

Cole seeks re-election as Anderson County clerk

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Jeff Cole

Jeff Cole

 

Jeff Cole is seeking re-election as Anderson County clerk.

Cole has worked in the Anderson County Clerk’s office since 1989, and he has served as Anderson County clerk since 2002, a press release said.

Cole is a certified public administrator from the University of Tennessee, and he is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Local Government Leadership Program.  Cole was president of the County Clerks Association for the State of Tennessee, and he was chosen as County Clerk of the Year by all county clerks in the state of Tennessee in 2015, the press release said.

The County Clerk’s office is responsible for waiting on more than 120,000 customers a year, the press release said. The office receipts more than $7 million annually, and offers more than 15 different services to the citizens of Anderson County. [Read more…]

Lynch running for Anderson County Circuit Court clerk

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Rex Lynch

Rex Lynch

 

Former Anderson County Mayor Rex Lynch is running for Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk, opposing incumbent William Jones in the May 1 Republican Primary, a press release said.

Lynch, the county’s mayor from 1998 through 2010, has worked the past two years as a court security officer in Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Don Layton’s courtroom, the press release said.

In the press release, Lynch said he thinks his stint as a court officer, along with his vast county government experience, would allow him to implement the significant changes necessary to make the Circuit Court work better for the citizens of Anderson County. Those changes would begin with an infusion of leadership to establish better public relations and customer service in the office, Lynch said.

Among the various organizations and committees that Lynch has served and led include: chairman of the Anderson County Development Corporation; member of Board of Directors for Anderson County Economic Development Association; CROET Board member; East Tennessee Economic Council Board member; board vice chair for East Tennessee Development District; board vice chair for East Tennessee Human Resource Agency; Cumberland Mountain RC&D Board member; Tennessee Association of Mayors Board member; member Alpha Lodge #376; member of Kerbela Shriners of Knoxville; Clinton Rotary Club; and member of Second Baptist Church in Clinton. [Read more…]

Jones running for re-election as AC Circuit Court Clerk

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Willliam T. Jones

Willliam T. Jones

 

Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk William T. Jones is running for re-election this year, a press release said.

Jones kicked off his re-election campaign in late September with a fundraiser in Oak Ridge that was attended by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and District 33 State Representative John Ragan, the press release said.

Jones was elected to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in 2014 after a 24-year career in law enforcement, the press release said. His duties include supervision of Circuit Court, General Sessions Court Divisions I and II, and Juvenile Court.

“Under his direction, the clerk’s office has run more cost effectively by cutting operating cost,” the press release said. “All surpluses were returned to the county’s general fund. Jones has also been fiscally responsible and able to reduce the annual operating budget.” [Read more…]

Ridenour, an ORPD officer & former chief deputy, running for sheriff

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Lewis Ridenour

Lewis Ridenour

 

Lewis Ridenour, an Oak Ridge Police Department officer and former chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, is running for sheriff in the 2018 election.

In a press release, Ridenour, a Republican, pledged to only serve two terms if elected as Anderson County sheriff. He cited “great concern” over career politicians when announcing his term-limit pledge.

Ridenour pledged to use his community and law enforcement experience, sound judgment, and “know-how” in office, the press release said.

“During my over 20 years of law enforcement experience in this county, I have gained an understanding of the complexities of city and county government, including its capabilities and limitations,” Ridenour said. “Most importantly, the primary role for the sheriff should be to be to make our entire county safe, while also being an advocate for the taxpayers. There are real issues facing our county relating to drugs and crimes against persons and property. There are also many financial issues that will come before us in the years to come. We need a sheriff with extensive experience as an administrator as well as law enforcement.” [Read more…]

‘Pathway to Politics: Engaging the African-American Community’ is Thursday

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Pathway to Politics Flyer2 (002)

A non-partisan program to educate, inspire, and mobilize African-Americans to run for office and engage in political advocacy in Oak Ridge is Thursday evening at Oak Valley Baptist Church.

The program is titled “Pathway to Politics: Engaging the African-American Community.”

It’s presented by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Oak Ridge Chapter. Co-sponsors are Oak Valley Baptist Church and Oak Ridge League of Women Voters. [Read more…]

Chattanooga doctor running for U.S. House, in Oak Ridge on Saturday

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Danielle Mitchell

Danielle Mitchell

 

Danielle Mitchell, a Chattanooga doctor and independent business owner of a community health care clinic, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, a press release said.

Mitchell is a Democrat who hopes to unseat Representative Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican, in next year’s election in Tennessee’s Third District, the press release said. The Third District includes Oak Ridge.

Mitchell is running on a platform that prioritizes “people policy” over partisan politics, as well as a focus on viable solutions that benefit all Tennesseans, the press release said.

She will be in Oak Ridge for a special breakfast and town hall discussion on Saturday morning, October 28, according to the press release. That breakfast, called “Pancakes with a Purpose,” is scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, October 28, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. There is a suggested donation of $20 and all are welcome, the press release said. [Read more…]

U.S. Senate candidate Mackler will be in Oak Ridge on Thursday

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James Mackler

James Mackler

 

James Mackler, the first Tennessee Democrat to launch a 2018 U.S. Senate campaign, will be in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

Mackler, a Nashville attorney and Iraq War veteran, will be the keynote speaker at the Anderson County Democratic Party general meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, is not seeking re-election in 2018. U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn, also a Tennessee Republican, has announced she will run for Corker’s seat.

A press release said Mackler left his job six months ago as a prosecutor and defense attorney to run for Corker’s seat. [Read more…]

Roane County Democrats sponsor East Tennessee Democrats’ Labor Day Picnic

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

The Roane County Democrats are sponsoring the annual East Tennessee Democrats’ Labor Day Picnic on Monday, September 4.

The picnic is scheduled from 12-3 p.m. at the Roane County Park on Highway 70.

Candidates for office will speak, organizers said. The picnic will include free food and a petting zoo for children.

This press release was submitted by Sherry Paris.

Anderson County Republican Party has candidates forum on Thursday

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Anderson County Republican Party Logo

The Anderson County Republican Party will have a Republican Candidates’ Forum in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, September 7, at Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, at 101 Bus Terminal Road in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“The Anderson County Republican Party has elected primaries to welcome growth and opportunity into the party,” the press release said. “Candidates running as a Republican must adhere to the standards and practices of the Republican Party. The Republican Party is an earned label, not a charitable distribution of the representation that it holds. In addition, the Tennessee Republican Party is not a public entity. It is to be revered and respected. The name, logo, reference and (R) belong to the party. Therefore, the state party is required to list the candidate as an approved ‘bona fide Republican.'” [Read more…]

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate to visit Oak Ridge today

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Craigh Fitzhugh

Craigh Fitzhugh

Craig Fitzhugh, a Democratic candidate for Tennessee governor, is visiting Oak Ridge this evening.

Fitzhugh will have a meet and greet from 7 to 8 p.m. today (Tuesday, August 29) at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Café at 223 Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. The event is being sponsored by the Anderson County Democratic Party, a press release said. The public is invited.

“‘People Matter,’ the campaign slogan of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Craig Fitzhugh, ties together the very essence of why he has thrown his hat into the race for governor in 2018,” the press release said. “It connects voter concerns from across the state.”

When asked why he chose “People Matter” as his slogan, Fitzhugh said he’s concerned Tennessee is falling behind, citing education, jobs, infrastructure, and health care, particularly the expansion of Medicaid as top issues, the press release said.

“The problems and the situations that people in North Nashville and south Memphis find themselves in are not much different than those in Ripley, or Columbia or Etowah, or other communities,” Fitzhugh said. “There are things that we can do to give people an opportunity to better their lives.” [Read more…]

911 director running for Anderson County trustee

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Regina Copeland

Regina Copeland

 

911 Director Regina Copeland is running for Anderson County trustee in the 2018 election.

Copeland is a lifetime resident of Anderson County who will bring valuable experience to the Trustee Office, capitalizing on her experience of managing the 911 Office for the past 18 years, a press release said.

In the press release, Copeland explained her reason for seeking the trustee position.

“I have managed budgets and personnel within county government for the past 18 years,” Copeland said. “This is a chance for me to utilize my experience in government in serving the people of Anderson County in a new capacity in the Trustee Office.” [Read more…]