Here are the unofficial election results for the contested races in the Democratic and Republican primaries in Anderson County on Tuesday. The results include all 27 precincts, early voting, and absentee ballots.
Anderson County mayor—Republican primary
Anderson County chancellor—Republican primary
Nicki Cantrell, second from right, who is running unopposed in the Aug. 7 general election after winning the Republican primary on Tuesday, will become Anderson County’s first female chancellor. Also pictured at right is Michael Farley, one of her two Republican opponents. The three GOP candidates for Juvenile Court judge are also pictured. From left they are Vickie Bannach, Lauren Biloski, and Brian Hunt, the winner of Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Terry Frank
Note: This story was last updated at 4:10 p.m. May 7.
Primary Winners: Frank, Cantrell, Hunt, Lay, Clement
One is Anderson County’s first female mayor. The other will become the county’s first female chancellor.
The two candidates—Terry Frank and Nicki Cantrell—beat their opponents by significant margins in the Republican primary on Tuesday. Both said their victories were based in large part on running positive campaigns.
Cantrell’s victory over Clinton attorney and City Judge Michael Farley, who had the support of many other lawyers, appeared to be the big upset of the night in what had been the most heated race, with the two candidates clashing over their courtroom experience and trading accusations of false claims and “mudslinging.”
Zach Bates
Both were running to replace the current chancellor, William Lantrip, who is retiring at the end of June after 25 years on the bench. The chancellor hears cases in Chancery Court ranging from divorces and adoptions to lawsuits and contract disputes, but can also sometimes hear Criminal Court cases, sit as the Circuit Court judge, and hear Juvenile Court appeals.
“Nobody believed we could do this,” Cantrell’s husband Dail Cantrell said Tuesday night. “We refused to run a negative campaign and got the support of the people.”
Nicki Cantrell won by about 900 votes, collecting 3,895 votes to Farley’s 2,979, according to unofficial results with all 27 precincts reporting. That’s roughly a 54 percent to 41 percent margin.
A third candidate, Republican Phil Harber, who did not appear to campaign as hard as either Farley or Cantrell, received 368 votes. [Read more…]
David Dunkirk
To the Editor:
What does it take to be an effective juvenile court judge in Tennessee?
First, in my opinion, would be the ability to know, understand, and apply the laws that impact juveniles and their families or guardians.
Second, that person must have the demeanor to be a judge. He or she must recognize that the position is not based upon winning a popularity contest; or being a “glad-hander” at a community pancake breakfast, for example; or having the most and largest political ads in the local press; or having the most yard signs to the point their number appears to exceed the number of wild onions in a person’s lawn. That candidate must recognize the seriousness of the office and conduct him or herself accordingly.
Third, he or she must have outstanding credentials.
In my judgment, Mr. David Dunkirk exceeds these qualifications. [Read more…]
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is pictured above.
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is hosting a series of events to allow voters to meet candidates and hear where they stand on issues of importance to the community, a press release said. The first session will be held Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 a.m. at the chamber.
The Chamber will host candidates for the office of Seventh District chancellor and Juvenile Court judge at Thursday’s event, the press release said. Chamber members and the public are invited to attend.
The following candidates have confirmed their plans to be in attendance: [Read more…]
David Dunkirk
Submitted
The Committee to Elect David Dunkirk as Juvenile Judge for Anderson County has named a treasurer, Stan Mitchell, the former editor and publisher of The Oak Ridge Observer.
Dunkirk, a long-time local attorney who is running as a Democrat, said he was proud to have Mitchell serve as his treasurer.
“I’ve known Stan long enough to know he is a man of tremendous integrity and honesty. I am honored he is willing to act as my treasurer,” Dunkirk said.
Mitchell released a statement explaining his decision to serve as Dunkirk’s treasurer. [Read more…]
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:
David Dunkirk
Longtime attorney David Dunkirk has announced he is seeking the office of Anderson County Juvenile Court judge.
Dunkirk has been practicing law since 1986 and is licensed in three states: Tennessee, California, and Washington.
“When young families and children come before the Juvenile Court, it’s usually because they’re in difficult circumstances,” Dunkirk said. “And I’ve found that this is when they most need good role models. I have done that as guardian ad litem, and if elected I believe I can also do that as juvenile judge.”
Guardians ad litem are appointed for children who have been removed or could potentially be removed from their families due to violations of the Tennessee Code. [Read more…]
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:
