Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Asks voters to seriously consider Dodson, Hope

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

When Oak Ridgers go to the polls to elect members of the Oak Ridge City Council, they will find a number of excellent candidates from which to choose. However, I would like to encourage all voters to seriously consider two of the candidates.

First, I have known Jim Dodson for a number of years. Jim and I have worked together on numerous projects, and I have found Jim to be one of the most honest, dependable, and reasonable people I have ever known. Jim has served our city as an educator, volunteer, and community leader for more than 30 years and has made an indelible impact on the lives of many in our community.

I truly believe Jim will bring the same kind of enthusiasm, expertise, and creativity to the Oak Ridge City Council that he has brought to so many other organizations and projects. Jim is an asset to our city and will definitely be an asset to our City Council. [Read more…]

Letter: Dodson has wisdom, experience, professionalism, thoughtful creativity

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

As a young voter frustrated by the embarrassing dialogue of our national election, I am so happy we have a candidate for Oak Ridge City Council that commands the wisdom and leadership qualities we seek and in which we can place much confidence. I appeal to you to take a close look at Jim Dodson, candidate for Oak Ridge City Council.

Jim Dodson has a history of stepping up and taking initiative and leadership in programs that are good for Oak Ridge, Tennessee, its citizens, and businesses.

I am personally aware that for many years he initiated and organized displays and competitions of art work by Oak Ridge students and others across Tennessee and has raised millions of dollars for scholarships. His foresight and leadership go beyond his concentration on the arts and continue to be recognized. This website includes a brief synopsis: http://www.tennesseeartsacademy.org/about-us/staff.aspx. [Read more…]

Early voting update: More than 16,000 have cast ballots in Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

There are now just over three days left in the early voting period in Tennessee for next Tuesday’s presidential and county general elections. Turnout at the polls has been impressive, and that string of robust participation continued on Monday.

In Anderson County on Monday, another 1,356 people voted, bringing the 11-day total, including paper ballots, to 16,370. Anderson County residents can cast ballots at the Clinton Community Center, the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge, and at the North Anderson Government Office in the Anderson Crossing Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, November 1) through Thursday, November 3. For more, visit www.acelect.com or call (865) 457-6238. [Read more…]

Letter: Hope gives back to community, seeks to maximize Oak Ridge’s potential

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

Like most voters, I decided whom I would support in the national election several months ago. But I wish not to discuss what might be the worst presidential election cycle since Jefferson and Adams opposed each other in the 1700s. No, I would like to share my views on local choices (Oak Ridge City Council), especially Chuck Hope Jr., who is running for re-election.

One of the perks of living in Oak Ridge is that while shopping at Food City one can bump into the city manager. Or attend a performance at the Oak Ridge Playhouse and engage fellow patrons who are members of City Council. Or have your automobile serviced at Chuck’s Car Care on the Turnpike, owned and managed by Chuck Hope. Every customer is treated with respect. So are citizens who have contact with Chuck on matters of local governance. Work performed at his establishment usually exceeds expectation and at a reasonable price. [Read more…]

Letter: Garcia Garland will steer Oak Ridge toward best decisions for citizens at large, not just privileged few

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

I am writing to endorse Anne Garcia Garland for Oak Ridge City Council. She is kind, smart, and principled as are many of the other candidates. However, she unlike others, has no potential conflicts of interest: she is not an employee of any city entity, including the school system, nor is she a member of the Chamber of Commerce, which receives substantial monies from the City of Oak Ridge. She was not endorsed by the Chamber PAC either, which suggests that she will not be beholden or easily influenced by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce while sitting on Council.

Anne, unlike another City Council candidate, has never been a commenter on the website reportedly owned and maintained by a sitting School Board member, a site where fellow citizens are bullied and belittled.

And finally, I believe Anne has the temperament to be a good public servant. She has never, to my knowledge, threatened or “joked” about putting a sitting city council woman “six feet under.” Some readers may remember the details of an incident in which that so called “joke” was made public, an incident which I shall not revisit with any further detail now. [Read more…]

Survey: Do you support or oppose term limits, a smaller county commission, electing law director?

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 3:55 p.m.

Among the issues in the campaign for Anderson County Charter Commission are whether term limits should be implemented for Anderson County commissioners and the Anderson County mayor, whether the County Commission should be reduced in size, and whether the law director should be elected.

We are curious what Oak Ridge Today readers think so we set up some poll questions to ask you. They are below.

Nothing can officially be proposed, debated, or recommended to voters in the November 2018 election until after the Charter Commission is elected this November 8.

There have been proposals this campaign season to enact a two-term limit for commissioners and the mayor and reduce the County Commission from its current 16 to a minimum of nine. There have been other proposals as well, including making the mayor’s position part-time, making the law director’s position part-time, and appointing a mayor rather than electing the mayor. [Read more…]

Letter: Dodson an active, natural leader who has experience working with all ages

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

It is with pleasure that I recommend to you Jim Dodson for Oak Ridge City Council. Jim is an active leader in our community in several different ways, from his involvement in United Way to the Arts Council of Oak Ridge, and he has just become a member of the Board of Directors of Aid for Distressed Families in Appalachian Counties.

In each of these organizations, Jim serves as a natural leader. His relationship with the arts community extends beyond Oak Ridge to include Knoxville and Nashville. In all areas where he is active, he is well respected not only for his creative thinking, but for his excellent leadership ability.

He stays in touch with students through being a teacher at Jefferson Middle School. This connects him with a portion of the younger generation (now known as Generation Z—born since 1995, which makes up 25 percent of our population, more than Baby Boomers and even more than Millennials!).

I believe these younger generations are the future of Oak Ridge. Those of us who are Baby Boomers (born in 1946-1964) are retired or nearing retirement. [Read more…]

Letter: Dodson a team player who takes time to listen, works hard to make things better

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

I’m writing to add my name to the list of folks who support Jim Dodson for Oak Ridge City Council.

Jim and I have worked together over the last six years on various Arts Council and Rotary projects, and I’m always impressed by what he’s been able to accomplish. [Read more…]

Letter: Hope a small business owner with experience, deep love for city

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

I have known Chuck Hope for seven years, after meeting him at a local networking event. At that time, I had lived in Oak Ridge for three years and not had much interaction with local folks.

Chuck surprised me quickly with his enthusiasm for the good qualities of Oak Ridge. We spoke about the history and the many great attractions that Oak Ridge has, and how it’s not limited to just the great parks and recreation that Oak Ridge has to offer but how the museum (American Museum of Science and Energy) and the rowing association had made an impact on the city. His forthcoming and positivity in a town that at the time seemed stagnant showed me that Chuck Hope cared about Oak Ridge.

We have since worked together on community events such as the Secret City Festival and supporting the Oak Ridge Playhouse, and I have never seen that enthusiasm wane. [Read more…]

Hope responds to PAC endorsements

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope, the one incumbent running for re-election in the November 8 election, has responded to the endorsements by the Progress PAC political action committee.

The Progress PAC endorsed Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, and Hans Vogel, who are all making their first runs for seats on the seven-member City Council. The endorsements were announced last week.

Hope was not endorsed. You can see his response here.

The PAC was established two years ago by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and it operates autonomously from the Chamber’s Board.

All six of the candidates endorsed by the Progress PAC two years ago were elected, although one candidate who wasn’t endorsed, Rick Chinn, was also elected. [Read more…]

Column: Hope, the incumbent, responds to PAC endorsements

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

By Chuck Hope

First of all, I want to say congratulations to Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, and Hans Vogel on being endorsed by the Chamber’s Progress PAC political action committee. I think it is important for the citizens of Oak Ridge to know that those three candidates are not the only candidates who support a vital economic development plan for Oak Ridge.

My community involvement has been extensive, serving on both the Chamber Board and the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City’s Beer Permit Board before being appointed to Council. I was selected by a council majority in July 2011 to fill a vacated council seat and successfully ran for election in 2012. My vision for economic development is to continue to grow our retail sector while continuing to work harder on industrial growth opportunities. Growth like carbon fiber, whose industry is showing a lot of promise right now.

I want voters to know that I was the top vote-getter in my first election, and I am one of just a few Council members that have been on both the Chamber of Commerce Board (chairman in 2010) and City Council. I have been a businessman in Oak Ridge since 1982, and during the past 15 years, I have supported the City/Chamber contracts and aligned myself with what I thought to be the Chamber’s “mission, vision, and legislative priorities,” and worked closely with the Oak Ridge Board of Education. [Read more…]

Letter: Lee has unmatched knowledge, optimism regarding city, its future

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of my friend Joe Lee’s candidacy for Oak Ridge City Council in the coming election.

Born and raised in Oak Ridge, Joe’s knowledge and optimism regarding the city and its future are unmatched.

For almost a decade, he has served as a citizen on the city’s Board of Building and Housing Code of Appeals. His ability to get things done is evidenced in his leadership in bringing attention and appropriate action to the problems of blighted, abandoned, or neglected properties. [Read more…]