Oak Ridge Today

Dodson running for second term on City Council

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jim Dodson

Oak Ridge City Council member Jim Dodson is running for a second four-year term in the November 3 municipal election.

Dodson has been a teacher in Oak Ridge Schools for 33 years.

He was elected to City Council in November 2016, and he serves as the Council representative on the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission and Youth Advisory Board.

In a press release, Dodson said he has a strong record of community service and leadership on several civic boards, organizations, and commissions.

“I will definitely work alongside my Oak Ridge and East Tennessee neighbors for a better quality of life in our community,” Dodson said. “I hope to continue giving our residents a voice on City Council and promoting excellent educational opportunities for all our kids and young adults.

“I will also continue to help recruit businesses and families to Oak Ridge as the place to relocate. I look forward to working as an Oak Ridge City Council member to maintain and improve all city services while providing safe and thriving neighborhoods.”

[Read more…]

Presidential primary is today in Tennessee

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The presidential and county primary elections are today in Tennessee.

It’s Super Tuesday, and voters in 14 states, including Tennessee, will help select the Democratic Party nominee for president. More than 1,300 delegates are at stake.

Candidates still running for president in the Democratic primary are former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

Other candidates appear on the ballot, but they have ended or suspended their campaigns. That includes candidates who have dropped out in the past few days: Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer.

[Read more…]

Want to serve on city board or commission? Applications are available

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

As part of Oak Ridge’s end-of-year election, the City Clerk’s Office is accepting applications from citizens who wish to serve on a board or commission. The submission deadline is Friday, January 24, 2020, at 5 p.m.

Interested residents must complete a Boards and Commissions application available online by visiting www.oakridgetn.gov/online/cityclerk/bcelections. Applicants may attach additional documents such as cover letters, reference lists, and résumés. The application allows residents to choose and rank their top three board choices for consideration.

The city is recruiting membership for a total of 16 boards and commissions:

[Read more…]

Anderson County Republicans to elect officers Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Republican Party will elect officers of its Executive Committee on Thursday. The public is invited to attend, a press release said.

Elections will be held for the following positions: chair, vice chair, treasurer, vice treasurer, and secretary, the press release said.

The elections will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday March 21, in Room 313 of the Anderson County Courthouse at 100 North Main Street in Clinton.

For more information, go to the Anderson County Republican Party events calendar at https://actngop.org/events.php.

This press release was submitted by Anthony Allen.

Gooch, Chinn will seek re-election as mayor, mayor pro tem

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch will seek re-election as mayor later this month, and Mayor Pro Tem Rick Chinn wants to serve again as mayor pro tem.

The Oak Ridge City Council will elect two of their seven members as mayor and mayor pro tem at a meeting on Tuesday, November 27. The mayor and mayor pro tem, who serves in the mayor’s absence, serve two-year terms. Under the City Charter, they are chosen by Council after each municipal election every two years.

While Gooch is currently mayor, Council member Rick Chinn is now the mayor pro tem. In Oak Ridge, the daily responsibilities of running the city are delegated to a city manager, who is selected by Council. The mayor and mayor pro tem cast votes during City Council decisions, and the mayor—or mayor pro tem when the mayor is not available—leads City Council meetings, signs ordinances and resolutions, and serves as the ceremonial head of the city, among other duties.

If he is re-elected later this month, it would be Gooch’s third two-year term as mayor. It would be Chinn’s second term as mayor pro tem. [Read more…]

Four incumbents re-elected to Oak Ridge City Council

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Warren Gooch

Warren Gooch

Note: This story was last updated at 12 a.m.

The four incumbents—Mayor Warren Gooch, Council members Kelly Callison and Ellen Smith, and Mayor Pro Tem Rick Chinn—were re-elected to four-year terms on Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday, according to unofficial election results in Anderson and Roane counties.

The final results mirrored the results of early and absentee ballots in Anderson County.

There were four City Council seats up for regular election and five candidates for those seats.

Gooch had the most votes Tuesday, a total of 7,916 in the two counties (6,774 in Anderson County and 1,142 in Roane County). Gooch also had the highest number of votes in the transitional 2014 election, his first City Council election. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge voters invited to meet election candidates

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Voters are invited to a Meet the Candidates event on Thursday, October 18, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

Democracy for East Tennessee is sponsoring this event so residents of Oak Ridge can become better acquainted with the candidates for offices in the upcoming November city, state, and federal general elections, a press release said. Early voting begins October 17, and the election is Tuesday, November 6. [Read more…]

Voter’s guide: Notes from a candidate forum

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 10:35 a.m.

Today, August 2, is Election Day in Anderson County. The election includes the Anderson County general election and state and federal primary elections.

It’s the second of three elections this year. The first was the county primary election on May 1, and the last is the municipal election and state and federal elections on November 6.

Here are notes about Anderson County candidates in today’s county general election from a forum at Oak Ridge High School in July. The county general election includes selections for mayor, sheriff, county commission, trustee, circuit court clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent, and school board, among other positions. Some of the candidates have no opposition.

Anderson County Sheriff [Read more…]

Creasey seeks re-election to Anderson County Commission, District 7

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jerry Creasey (Submitted photo)

Jerry Creasey (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge resident Jerry Creasey is seeking re-election to the Seventh District seat on the Anderson County Commission in the county general election on Thursday, August 2.

Creasey grew up in High Point, North Carolina, where he attended High Point College and graduated from Guildford Technical Institute in Electronics Technology following his four years of service with the United States Air Force as a B-47 Radar and Weapons In-flight Trouble Shooter, a press release said. Coming to Oak Ridge in 1968 to work at the Y-12 plant, Creasey retired as radio systems manager after 27 years of service. He has since been involved with his wife’s small telecommunications business.

Creasey has served as chairman of the Anderson County Commission, as well as chairman of the Legislative, ADA Oversight, Computer, Legislative, and the Veterans Committees. He is presently serving on the ADA Oversight, Broadband, and Budget committees. [Read more…]

Bouchard seeks election to Anderson County Commission District 7

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Jimmy Bouchard is seeking election to the Anderson County Commission to represent District 7, which covers the Glenwood, Pine Valley, and Highland View precincts, a press release said.

In a press release, Bouchard said he is a local small business owner of In & Out Maintenance, a renovation and construction company.

“I am a longtime member of the community where my wife and I are happy to be raising a family,” Bouchard said. “I am married to my best friend, Kelsie, and have two boys Kolton, age six and a rising first-grader at Glenwood Elementary, and Kaison who will be turning two in August. We are also very excited and happy to be welcoming our third boy later this fall. I am an extremely hard-working father and take pride in all my efforts, and I want to work hard for all the families in District 7.” [Read more…]

Catherine Denenberg receives endorsement from Tom Beehan, Kay Brookshire

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pictured above from left are Kay Brookshire, Catherine Denenberg, and Tom Beehan. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above from left are Kay Brookshire, Catherine Denenberg, and Tom Beehan. (Submitted photo)

 

Former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and his wife, Kay Brookshire, are supporting Anderson County Commissioner Catherine Denenberg in her race to return to her commission seat representing District 6 in Oak Ridge, a press release said. Election day is Thursday, August 2.

“We support Catherine Denenberg because we believe it’s important to have an independent voice representing Oak Ridge on Anderson County Commission,” Beehan said. “She’s a great problem solver, a good listener, and as a County Commissioner, she works well with other commissioners and with those in Oak Ridge city government.”

Denenberg has represented District 6 since Commissioner Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock stepped down from the position early this year. Hitchcock asked her to seek his commission seat, and Denenberg said she was humbled and honored to do so. County Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint her to the seat, the press release said. [Read more…]

Meet candidates at Popcorn & Politics on Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

You can meet candidates for county and state elected offices at Popcorn and Politics at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

It’s scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. Monday, June 25. It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Committee. Popcorn and Politics will give you a chance to meet candidates running for office in the August election, a press release said.

“All local candidates as well as candidates running for state legislative offices have been invited to participate,” the press release said.

The public is invited. There is no charge to attend, but a reservation is requested. The event will be held in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]