Oak Ridge Today

Norris Bulletin to host candidate forum at ACHS

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Information from WYSH Radio

All of the candidates in the upcoming Democratic and Republican contested primary elections scheduled for May 6 are being invited to a public forum to be hosted by The Norris Bulletin and moderated by publisher Jack Mitchell. The event will be held next Thursday, April 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of Anderson County High School.

Unopposed candidates are also invited and, after a brief introduction, will be given an opportunity to make a brief statement, but they will not participate in the question and answer session of the forum.

For each of the contested primaries, candidates will be granted two to three minutes for an opening statement, after which 20 minutes will be allocated to a question and answer session where the moderator will pose four questions to each candidate, who will have two minutes to answer. Opponents will then be granted two minutes for rebuttal. The moderator, at his discretion, may permit an additional one minute to the candidate who was originally asked the question. [Read more…]

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…]

Without Republicans, little opposition, few questions at League forum

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David Dunkirk and J. Michael Clement

David R. Dunkirk, left, and J. Michael Clement, Democratic candidates for Juvenile Court judge in the May 6 Anderson County primary election, answer questions during a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge on Tuesday. (Photo by Sara Wise)

Note: This story was last updated at 9:10 a.m.

There was little opposition and only a few questions at a Tuesday night candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

All of the Democratic candidates were at the League forum, which was held in the Pollard Auditorium at Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

But most of the Republican candidates were a few blocks away at their own forum, and none of them attended the League forum. Still, many sent representatives to speak on their behalf.

The dueling forums were held with less than a month remaining before the May 6 primary election. Most of the competition is on the Republican side, with more than one GOP candidate for mayor, sheriff, chancellor, and Juvenile Court judge. The only contested Democratic race is for juvenile judge. [Read more…]

Anderson County Republicans also have April 8 candidate forum

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have an April 8 forum for GOP candidates running for county offices in the May 6 primary election.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. It’s expected to last about two hours, a press release said.

“This year’s election is especially important for Anderson County’s future,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “A forum will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase our great candidates and the Republican vision for the county. We invite folks to join us for what should be an interesting and informative evening. ”

The Republican Party forum is scheduled at the same time and the same night as a candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The League forum is for both Democratic and Republican candidates in the May 6 primary elections. It’s not clear yet if either event might be rescheduled to allow Republican candidates to attend both. [Read more…]

Forum for Anderson County primary candidates on April 8

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has an April 8 forum for candidates in the May 6 Anderson County Democratic and Republican primary elections. The forum will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Pollard Auditorium.

Candidates facing an opponent in the primary election have been invited to make an opening statement, participate in a question-and-answer session, and finish with a closing statement. Candidates with no opponent in the primary election but facing an opponent in the general election have been invited to make a short presentation. Candidates with no opponent in either the primary election on May 6 or the general election on Aug. 7 will be introduced. After the last candidate has spoken, the audience will be invited to join the candidates for additional discussion and greetings.

The May 6 election involves 14 Anderson County officials: chancellor, circuit court clerk, county clerk, county mayor, criminal and circuit court judge, district attorney general, general sessions judge I, general sessions judge II, juvenile court judge, public defender, register of deeds, road superintendent, sheriff, and trustee. [Read more…]

Candidate forum for Tennessee, U.S. House on Thursday

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Eight state and federal legislative candidates have been invited to take part in a Thursday evening forum at Oak Ridge High School.

The candidates could include the three running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 3rd District: Republican Chuck Fleischmann, who is the incumbent; Democrat Mary M. Headrick, a physician; and Independent Matthew Deniston, a U.S. Army veteran. The district includes Oak Ridge.

They could also include the two candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives in the 33rd District: Republican John D. Ragan, the incumbent, and Democrat Jim Hackworth, who is trying to take back his old seat. The district includes much of Anderson County.

Also invited are candidates for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 32rd District: Republican Kent Calfee, a former Roane County commissioner; Democrat Jack W. McNew; and Independent Allen R. Cole. The district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County.

[Read more…]

Candidate forum for City Council, school board on Tuesday

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The League of Women Voters is having a Tuesday evening forum for candidates for Oak Ridge City Council and Board of Education.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater.

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Oak Ridge educators host candidate forum Wednesday

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The Oak Ridge Education Association will host a public forum for five Tennessee House of Representatives candidates on Wednesday.

Three of the candidates—Democrat Jack McNew, Independent Allen Cole, and Republican Kent Calfee— are seeking seats in Tennessee’s District 32. That district includes Roane County and part of Loudon County. The seat has been held for one term by Lenoir City Republican Julia Hurley, who lost to Calfee in the Aug. 2 primary.

The other two candidates—Clinton Democrat Jim Hackworth and Oak Ridge Republican John R. Ragan—are battling to represent District 33, which includes most of Anderson County.

[Read more…]

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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League schedules Roane, Anderson candidate forums

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has scheduled two forums in July for political candidates in Anderson and Roane counties.

The first forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, at the Clinton Community Center. Participants could include candidates for Anderson County mayor, property assessor, County Commission District 8, School Board District 3, and Oak Ridge City Council.

The second forum starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room. The forum could feature candidates for Roane County offices including property assessor, road superintendent, school board districts 5 and 6, as well as the two Oak Ridge City Council candidates.