Oak Ridge City Council member Charlie Hensley, left, is pictured above with Kelly Callison during a meeting on Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 9:15 p.m. Aug. 24.
Oak Ridge City Council member Charlie Hensley has withdrawn as a candidate in the November 8 election, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Hensley was one of eight candidates for three seats on the seven-member Council.
The withdrawal was confirmed by the Anderson County Election Commission on Tuesday afternoon.
“This is a difficult decision but is made because I have my son’s family and two wonderful grandchildren living in the local area and with whom I want to spend more time,” Hensley said in a Tuesday statement. “Also, I want to spend time with other volunteer interests, hobbies, and related activities. Finally, there are some personal but manageable health issues that require attention.”
Hensley has served since 2007, or two terms. (Hensley served more than eight years because City Council terms were extended on a one-time basis from June 2011 to November 2012 when the dates of Oak Ridge municipal elections changed due to a revision of the City Charter that was approved by voters in November 2010.)
A second current Council member, Trina Baughn, also is not seeking re-election. That leaves only one incumbent, Chuck Hope, seeking re-election. Baughn is finishing up her first four-year term. Hope served a special three-month term starting in August 2012 before being elected to his first four-year term in November 2012.
A former City Council member, Anne Garcia Garland, is running in the November 8 municipal election. So are five new candidates: Jim Dodson, Wende Doolittle, Joseph Lee, Mark LeNoir, and Hans Vogel.
The withdrawal deadline for the November election is noon August 25.
Among other things, Hensley has been the City Council representative on the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission.
The City Council has seven members who serve staggered terms, meaning the other four seats are up for election in November 2018. Those seats are now occupied by Kelly Callison, Rick Chinn, Warren Gooch, and Ellen Smith.
See Hensley’s statement, which lists successes and hopes for projects under way, as well as three City Council endorsements, here.
See our election coverage on our 2016 Election page.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Steve Dittner says
He’ll be missed
Joseph Lee says
Mr. Hensley, Thank you for your service to our community.
Mike Mahathy says
Thank you Charlie!
Dave Smith says
I appreciate Charlie’s exemplary service to our city. It has made a difference for the better.
Regarding the candidates for council and OR council members as a whole, it’s a shame that we don’t have a blend of council members that are more representative of the diversity of citizens in our community. There are surely some capable black, Hispanic and Asian (for example) leaders among our citizenry that can be persuaded to run for council. Let’s hope that there will be more Minters and Mosbys and Goldens in our future.
Joseph Lee says
This is true. We have leaders in this town from one end to the other. The future will be here in a minute.
Matt Bailey says
I don’t really care what race, color, or sex they are. What impressed me about Mr. Hensley was that he was always prepared. Combined with his knowledge of OR’s past, he represented our citizens admirably. We have unique challenges and more than our fair share of complainers who find it easier to complain on FB than get out of the chair and volunteer to do something. Thank you, Charlie. Helluva job.
Philip W Nipper says
I vote for leaders based on what my ears hear not what my eyes see.
Philip W Nipper says
Mr. Hensley, I was looking forward to “highlighting” your name when it came time for me to “spin the wheel” in the voting booth. I was disappointed to learn that I won’t be able to that this year. During your time on council I think you made a solid and positive impact on this city. You will leave some big shoes to fill. Thank you for your dedication, time and devotion to the job.