Oak Ridge Today

Republican forum: Issues range from jobs, retail to drug courts, trial experience

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Anderson County Republican Party Forum

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, gives an opening statement during a Tuesday night candidate forum for Republican Party candidates. Also pictured are Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, who is challenging Frank in the May 6 GOP primary, and Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Randy Myers, one of two Republican candidates for sheriff.

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m.

The starkest differences between any candidates at a Tuesday night Republican Party forum might have emerged in the race for Anderson County chancellor, where candidates Michael Farley and Nicki Cantrell clashed on questions of trial experience and whether the Chancery Court should ever be used to hear criminal cases.

In the race for sheriff, Republican candidates Anthony Lay and Randy Myers agreed on one key question: No federal inmates should be housed at the Anderson County jail.

In the race for mayor, Terry Frank, the incumbent, said she had presided over one of the few—and possibly the only—tax cut in Anderson County history, while her opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates, said the county’s biggest economic challenge is “retail leakage.” [Read more…]

Spotlight: Hunt donates to ORHS boys’ basketball team for state tournament

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Brian Hunt and Aaron Green

Brian Hunt, left, a candidate for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge is pictured above with Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ basketball coach Aaron Green. (Submitted photo)

Brian Hunt, a candidate for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge, recently made a donation to the Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ basketball team.

The boys team traveled to Murfreesboro in March to play in the state championship game for the first time in 51 years.  The Wildcats lost 60-58 to the Blackman Blaze 60-58 in the championship game, but they were named 2014 State Runner-Up.

“I want to acknowledge and commend the team and their head coach for all their hard work this year and let them know their community is proud of their efforts,” Hunt said in a press release.

Letter: Capt. Hunt an ‘excellent choice’ for juvenile judge

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To the Editor:

I have supervised Capt. Brian Hunt in the U.S. Army Reserve 139th Legal Operations Detachment (LOD) for the past two years. I serve as a team leader for a team of attorneys and paralegals. I have been a licensed attorney for 13 years and an Army Reserve officer for over 20 years, including nine years on active duty. Capt. Hunt is a judge advocate (military attorney) assigned to my team.

Since joining the 139th LOD, Capt. Hunt has served in an exemplary manner. He has done extremely well at all soldier skills, including physical fitness training and weapons qualification, as well as attorney skills. He was assigned by our detachment commander to manage the medical readiness program for the unit and has done exceptionally well in ensuring unit soldiers receive the proper medical examinations and vaccinations in a timely manner. Thanks to his management of the program, our unit medical readiness is the best in the Legal Command. [Read more…]

Hunt, a candidate for juvenile judge, has March meet-and-greet

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Brian Hunt

Brian Hunt

Attorney Brian Hunt, a candidate for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge, has a March 13 meet-and-greet barbecue in Clinton.

The barbecue is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. at the Clinton Community Center. There is no charge to the public, a press release said. Make reservations by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Hackworth a Democratic candidate for AC mayor; more running for chancellor, juvenile judge

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Jim Hackworth

Jim Hackworth

Former Tennessee Rep. Jim Hackworth has qualified to run in the May 6 Democratic primary for Anderson County mayor. He could take on the winner of the Republican primary—either the incumbent, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, or her challenger, Commissioner Zach Bates—in the Aug. 7 county general election.

Hackworth is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The deadline to qualify as a candidate in the May 6 primaries was noon Thursday. There were four last-minute qualifiers, including Hackworth. Here are the others:

  • Nichole “Nicki” Cantrell joined Mike Farley and Phil Harber in the Republican primary for chancellor. [Read more…]

Anderson County primary deadline Thursday at noon

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Information from WYSH Radio

The deadline to qualify as a candidate in any of the races on the ballot for Anderson County’s May 6 primaries is at noon Thursday.

Here is a look at who has qualified so far:

  • So far, only incumbent Judge Don Elledge has qualified to run for his seat as criminal and circuit judge.
  • Five people have qualified to run in the hotly-contested Juvenile Court judge primaries. Two Democrats—J. Michael Clement and David Dunkirk—are seeking the nomination, while three Republicans—Victoria Bannach, Lauren Biloski, and Brian Hunt—have qualified to seek their party’s nod to run for the seat in the August general election.
  • Brandon Fisher, the current Juvenile Court judge, had qualified to run for the Democratic nomination for chancellor, a seat coming open due to the retirement of William Lantrip, but he announced just a couple of weeks ago that he will be dropping out of the race to join a company in Pennsylvania. On the Republican side, Mike Farley and Phil Harber have qualified to appear on the May ballot. [Read more…]

Hunt running for juvenile court judge

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Brian Hunt

Brian Hunt

Attorney Brian Hunt has announced that he is running for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge.

Hunt now serves as a judge advocate general at the rank of captain in the U.S. Army Reserves and has served as Lake City municipal judge since 2006, a press release said.

Hunt grew up in Clinton, attending Clinton Elementary School and Clinton Middle School, and he graduated from Clinton High School in 1996. He later received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2000 from The University of the South-Sewanee in Tennessee. He graduated from Ohio Northern University Law School in 2003 and began practicing law in 2003. [Read more…]