Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Baughn, Hensley, and Hope will provide results on Council

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To the Editor:

This year, your vote can make a real difference to the Oak Ridge City Council. We need leaders like Chuck Hope, Charlie Hensley, and Trina Baughn on the Council.

Oak Ridge is a beautiful place to live and work. Yet, unfortunately, the city’s economy struggles with non-competitive tax and utility rates.

For years, surrounding communities have enjoyed much lower property tax rates than Oak Ridge. This year for the first time, Oak Ridge utility rates have also reached the point that they are non-competitive.

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Finishing three-month term, Hope running for four years on Council

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope Jr. just won a three-month term on the Oak Ridge City Council, and now he’s running for a regular four-year term in the Nov. 6 election.

A longtime local businessman, Hope won the special three-month term in the Aug. 2 county election. He defeated Trina Baughn, who is also running in the November election.

It was the first run for a political office for both candidates.

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Frank, Iwanski, Hope win election in Anderson County, Oak Ridge

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Business owner Terry Frank, a Clinton Republican, has defeated attorney Warren Gooch, an Oak Ridge Democrat, in the race for Anderson County mayor.

Frank received 7,074 votes, or 58 percent, while Gooch collected 5,032, or 42 percent, according to unofficial results Thursday night.

She will serve a two-year term, completing the unexpired term of former mayor Rex Lynch, who resigned in January 2011.

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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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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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