Oak Ridge Today

Frank, Iwanski, Hope lead in early election returns

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has an early voting lead over attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor, according to early results posted Thursday evening on the Anderson County Election Commission website.

Results continue to be tabulated, but Frank has been collecting about 56 or 58 percent of the early, absentee, and election day votes, compared to about 42 to 44 percent for Gooch.

Also taking an early lead was City Council candidate Charles J. “Chuck” Hope Jr., who had about 58 percent of the vote around 8:42 p.m., compared to 42 percent for Trina Baughn.

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Hope raises twice as much in campaign contributions as Baughn

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Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

CLINTON—Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope has raised twice as much in campaign contributions since April as his opponent, Trina Baughn, according to reports filed this month.

Hope, appointed to Council last summer after Tom Hayes resigned in June 2011, raised $3,669 in campaign contributions between April 1 and July 23.

Meanwhile, Baughn raised $1,675.

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Letter: Endorses Hope for volunteerism, board support

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To the Editor:

I hereby provide my unsolicited endorsement for Chuck Hope as he runs for a full term on City Council.

Why?

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Hope wants more retail, modernized homes, good relationship with schools

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

It’s Chuck Hope’s first campaign for an elected office, but he already has some job experience.

Hope, a 49-year-old businessman, was appointed to serve on Oak Ridge City Council after former Council member Tom Hayes resigned in June 2011. Now, he’s running for a special three-month term on the city’s seven-member legislative body.

In recent forums and interviews, Hope has advocated for more retail development in Oak Ridge, modernizing older “legacy” homes, and reviving the city’s economic development fund.

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Roane, Oak Ridge candidate forum tonight

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The second of two political forums this week will feature Roane County candidates for property assessor, road superintendent, and school board districts five and six, as well as candidates for Oak Ridge City Council.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. today in the Oak Ridge Civic Center A-B Room.

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Council candidates differ on tax incentives, high school debt

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

One candidate seemed more willing than the other to use tax incentives to spur commercial development in Oak Ridge, but neither appeared ready to build a senior center.

A difference also emerged between the two Oak Ridge City Council candidates, Chuck Hope and Trina Baughn, on paying off the debt on the $66 million renovation of the city’s high school.

Hope, owner of Chuck’s Car Care Center, called the question over whether higher Anderson County sales tax revenues should be used to help pay that debt the “800-pound gorilla in the room.”

“That’s our biggest divide,” he said. Sales tax revenues in Oak Ridge need to be increased to help solve the problem, Hope said.

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Council approves tourism, economic development contracts

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The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday unanimously approved $450,000 worth of tourism and economic development contracts.

The city’s tourism agency, the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, got a slight increase in city funding compared to last year. Its new one-year contract is worth up to $410,000, up from a maximum of about $404,000 last year.

The second contract, valued at $42,000, is with economic development consultant Ray Evans.

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Candidates forum at Clinton Community Center tonight

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has a forum tonight for Anderson County and Oak Ridge political candidates.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. at the Clinton Community Center. It will feature candidates for Anderson County mayor, property assessor, County Commission District 8, School Board District 3, and Oak Ridge City Council.

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City manager withdraws tuition reimbursement request

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has withdrawn a request to have the city reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

The tuition reimbursement proposal was expected to be considered at tonight’s City Council meeting. That’s when Council members will also consider whether to give Watson a 1.5 percent pay raise and a two-year contract extension.

The tuition reimbursement proposal had generated opposition. One of the primary concerns appeared to be that other city employees were not eligible.

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Guest column: Tempest over city manager tuition request

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

Monday evening’s City Council agenda has drawn a lot more attention from media and citizens than usual—likely a result of the agenda having been published almost a week earlier than usual.

The item drawing the most attention (from the News Sentinel, Oak Ridge Today, the Observer, and the Oak Ridger, as well as a lot of negative comment from citizens)—whether to reimburse City Manager Mark Watson’s tuition for his Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee—came a surprise to me because it had been only lightly discussed by the Council committee that considered the city manager’s performance evaluation—and we had not voted on it, much less made a recommendation to the full Council.

Because of the number of questions and comments I’ve gotten on this item, I’m presenting my viewpoint on the tuition tempest here for everyone’s benefit.

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Oak Ridge city manager asks for tuition reimbursement

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has asked the city to reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

In exchange, Watson would have to earn at least a “B” average and continue working for the city for three years after he finishes his classwork. If he leaves before then, he would have to repay the city.

Watson is studying political science, with a concentration in public administration.

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Former Council member, Commissioner Harold Jernigan dies at 84

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Harold Jernigan

Harold Jernigan

Former Oak Ridge City Council member and Anderson County Commissioner Harold Jernigan died Saturday. He was 84.

Jernigan was elected to City Council in 1968, serving for 20 years, including a term as vice mayor. He was elected to the Anderson County Commission in 1998 and served two four-year terms.

“Harold brought a wealth of experience to County Commission and fought hard for he the things he believed in,” Interim Anderson County Mayor Myron Iwanski said. “He was a true public servant.”

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