Oak Ridge Today

Letter: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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By Don A. Layton

Domestic violence is a crime which strikes at the very fabric of our communities. As the family has evolved into a hodgepodge of relationships, domestic violence has increased.

Laws have been passed to prevent and punish domestic violence offenders, including federal laws such as the Violence Against Women Act. State laws have created special provisions for domestic violence in TCA 39-13-111. Civil protection has been provided in the Protective Order Procedure found in TCA 36-3-601.

Notwithstanding the best efforts of law enforcement and the legal system, domestic violence remains a serious problem for our community, state, and nation. [Read more…]

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

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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: Lee professional, informed about issues and solutions, passionate about city growth

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To the Editor:

I met Mr. Joseph Lee shortly after my family moved to Oak Ridge in 2005. He introduced himself to me and welcomed us to Oak Ridge. Mr. Lee did not ask me if I was a Democrat or Republican, didn’t ask about our religion, or what my background was. He simply welcomed me to Oak Ridge! He may not even remember.

Early on as a resident, I got involved in promotion of the city in the campaign to bring Target to Oak Ridge. Even as a short-time resident, it was easy to see Oak Ridge needed more shopping options and opportunities to increase both sales and property tax bases. I observed Joe Lee promoting passage of the referendum.

Mr. Lee’s promotion of and work in support of Oak Ridge didn’t end with Oak Ridge losing Target. I learned that Mr. Lee was on the board of the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals. Among work on that board, Joe Lee proffered the strategy that formed the basis of the plan to restore the Guest House. Mr. Lee worked diligently to affect resolutions of blighted and abandoned properties. [Read more…]

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

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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: Iwanski endorses Smallridge for Charter Commission in District 8

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To the Editor:

Choose your charter commissioner wisely.

As noted in a recent Knoxville News Sentinel editorial “Voters must take care with charter commission picks” in the upcoming Anderson County election. They note further that a home rule charter has “options for improving county government, but also ample opportunity to make government worse.”

A charter abolishes and replaces the constitutional form of government. The charter form of county government is an option that completely restructures county government in a way that could affect almost every elected office and the citizens they serve.

It is important that we elect members to the charter commission that will take on this important task with an open mind and willingness to study the options carefully in a way that looks out for the long term interests of Anderson County. It is important that those selected have a proven history of successful experience in county and city government. [Read more…]

Letter: Anderson Charter endorses candidates based on survey responses

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Organizers of the Anderson County Charter movement have announced their endorsement of candidates who will support term limits, as well as announcing the formation of their Political Action Committee “Anderson Charter.”

To help Anderson County voters make informed decisions in the upcoming November 8 election, AndersonCharter.com sent the 19 Charter Commission candidates a questionnaire soliciting their views on a charter form of local government for Anderson County.

Only nine candidates returned the questionnaire, eight of which agreed or strongly agreed to the formation of a charter and to support term limits for the members of County Commission and the Office of Mayor. Concerning these issues, candidate Marjorie Lloyd responded “Don’t Know.” Verified candidates in support of term limits, as well as candidates supporting citizen speech and transparency in government are: [Read more…]

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

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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…]

Letter: Irwin wants to help create intelligent, functional, transparent county government

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To the Editor:

During the past year, I have worked continuously with a group of citizens from Anderson County to develop and implement a plan to move our county in a positive direction toward a charter county, or home rule, form of government.

After great consideration and encouragement, I made a decision to run for a seat on the Anderson County Charter Commission in the November 8, 2016, election. This committee of elected citizens will represent each district in our county as they draft a charter that will go before our state legislators for approval, and finally to “We The People” for a ballot vote in 2018.

Those running in favor of home rule are attempting to put local government more firmly back into the hands of the people where it belongs and once again establish a healthy balance to our county government. [Read more…]

Column: Hope, the incumbent, responds to PAC endorsements

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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

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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…]

Letter: Dodson collaborates, listens, teaches, encourages

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To the Editor:

We support Jim Dodson for Oak Ridge City Council. Jim’s extensive résumé includes his work as an educator, an athletic coach, and as a local, area, and state volunteer in several capacities.

He has received many honors, including an invitation from Governor Haslam to serve on the Humanities Tennessee Board of Directors, a position he currently holds. A graduate of Leadership Oak Ridge, Jim exemplifies the role of community leader: president elect of the Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; co-chair of United Way of Anderson County in 2015-16; current chair of the Explore Oak Ridge (formerly Convention and Visitors Bureau) board; and local Arts Council board member for seven years, including time as its executive director. These are but a few of the many jobs Jim has stepped up for in the last 29 years while he has been teaching and volunteering to make Oak Ridge’s young people and the community itself a better place. [Read more…]

Letter: Dodson a leader with knowledge, temperament to make Oak Ridge the community of choice

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This election season is one of the most important one in years. There are clear choices as to leadership and style as to who will lead us. Yes, the Presidential election is one of them, but the most important election for Oak Ridge is who will serve on our City Council.

I will be voting for Jim Dodson. He is a leader with the knowledge and temperament to make Oak Ridge the community of choice for those who want to live and work in a community that has safe neighborhoods, good schools, and steady economic growth. [Read more…]