Oak Ridge Today

Bowling running for judge

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Victoria Bowling (Submitted photo)

Local attorney Victoria Bowling will seek the Republican Party nomination for Anderson County General Sessions judge in Division I in the May 3 primary.

Bowling will run against the incumbent, Don Layton, who is seeking a fourth term as judge in this year’s election.

Bowling has a general law practice, focusing on family law, a press release said. She has practiced law for more than two decades in Anderson County, including serving four years with the Public Defender’s Office, the release said.

The press release said Bowling graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Honors Political Science. She then attended the University of Tennessee Law School, where she graduated in 1993. Bowling received the University of Tennessee Dean’s Citation (Dean’s Commendation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Law). While in law school, she served on the Board of the Tennessee Bar Association. Bowling also served as President of the Student Bar Association (University of Tennessee Law School), the press release said.

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Layton seeks fourth term as judge

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Don A. Layton (Submitted photo)

Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Don A. Layton will seek election to a fourth term this year.

Layton is the judge in General Sessions Court Division I in Clinton. He has presided over that court since 1998. General sessions judges serve eight-year terms.

“General Sessions Court Division I hears and processes more cases than any other court in Anderson County,” a press release said. “The Court produces more revenue than any other court in Anderson County.”

The press release said Layton is recognized throughout the state as a leader and innovator, and he has been chosen president of the 200-plus members of General Sessions Judges Conference. Layton is a frequent instructor and lecturer at state and educational conferences, the press release said.

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Report: Electronic monitoring program has saved $700,000

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PSI Reading Program

Anderson County General Sessions Judge Don Layton is pictured above at left and Chad McNabb, director of PSI Probation, is pictured at right. (File photo)

 

CLINTON—The Anderson County Electronic Monitoring Program has saved $714,090 since it started in May 2011, officials said Monday.

One hundred twenty-one defendants have participated in the monitoring program since it started, said Chad McNabb, director of PSI Probation in Clinton.

“Since the last update, the program has continued to operate at a high success rate while both saving taxpayer money and keeping the alleged victims of domestic violence safe,” McNabb said.

He said 78 defendants have served their sentences on house arrest, serving a total of 5,771 days.

“At an estimated cost of $65 per day to incarcerate an inmate, that saves the taxpayers of Anderson County $375,1150,” McNabb said. [Read more…]

Frank, White re-elected; incumbents fare well, but some upsets

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Steve Mead at Early Voting

Anderson County Commissioner Steve Mead, one of the incumbents re-elected Thursday, campaigns during early voting at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Fred O’Hara Jr.)

 

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Note: This story was last updated at 2:10 p.m. July 8.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was elected to her first four-year term on Thursday, and Sheriff Paul White was elected to a third term.

The election featured several close races, including for sheriff and register of deeds, and there were a few upsets, including for Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk, County Commission District 3, and General Sessions Judge, Division II, where longtime Judge Ron Murch suffered defeat.

Paul White

Paul White

In the race for the Tennessee House, Representative John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, beat back a primary challenge by newcomer Caitlin Nolan.

All 27 precincts have reported.

Here are the final unofficial election results for contested races:

Anderson County Mayor

  • Terry Frank, the Republican incumbent—7,586 (52.69 percent)
  • Jim Hackworth, a Democrat—6,193 (43.01 percent)
  • Bradley Rickett, an Independent—619 (4.3 percent)

Frank, who was first elected to a two-year term in a special election in August 2012, beat Hackworth, a former state representative and county commissioner, by about 1,400 votes. The two fought over a 1990 tax hike and “turmoil” and lawsuits in the Anderson County Courthouse.

Anderson County Sheriff

  • Paul White, the Democratic incumbent—7,386 (51.64 percent)
  • Anthony Lay, a Republican—6,918 (48.36 percent)

White’s margin of victory was just under 500 votes. Lay is a former sheriff in Scott County, and he is currently a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper. The two candidates battled over the food served at the Anderson County jail, crime rate statistics, and the responsiveness of the Sheriff’s Department, among other things. [Read more…]

Votes still coming in, but most incumbents in lead; few upsets possible

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Anderson County Early Voting Campaign Signs

The Thursday election featured the Anderson County general election and the state and federal primaries. Pictured above are campaign signs during early voting at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge.

 

Note: Please see this newer story for final results.

The votes are still coming in and the Anderson County Election Commission is repairing its website, but early results suggest most incumbents are faring well, although a few upsets are possible.

Here is a look at some preliminary voting results in Anderson County, as reported by BBB-TV, Channel 12 in Oak Ridge, with 16 of 27 precincts reporting. There could be a few upsets, including on Anderson County Commission and in the races for Anderson County General Session Judge, Division II, and Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk.

Anderson County Mayor

Terry Frank, the Republican incumbent, leads Jim Hackworth, a Democrat, and Bradley Rickett, an Independent.

Anderson County Sheriff

Paul White, the Democratic incumbent, leads Anthony Lay, a Republican.

Tennessee House of Representatives

Republican primary

John Ragan, the Republican incumbent, leads Caitlin Nolan, his GOP challenger. [Read more…]

Reminder: Roane candidates at election forum tonight

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Roane County candidates have been invited to an election forum in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday night).

Candidates who have been invited include those in contested races in Roane County for county executive, sheriff, circuit court clerk, circuit court judge, public defender, and Roane County School Board District 3/4, which includes Oak Ridge, have been invited to speak and answer questions.

Unopposed candidates for county attorney, county clerk, trustee, register of deeds, chancellor, criminal court judge, district attorney general, general sessions judges, and County Commission District 4 will be introduced.

The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. It starts at 7 p.m. in the City Room (A-111) at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. The college is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. [Read more…]

League forum to feature Anderson County candidates on Tuesday

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Oak Ridge High School

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will have a Tuesday evening forum for candidates in Anderson County. The forum will be at Oak Ridge High School, pictured above.

The League of Women Voters will have a Tuesday evening election forum in Oak Ridge that will feature candidates from seven contested races in Anderson County—and give voters a chance to meet candidates in the uncontested races.

The forum stars at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Candidates in the contested races are running for Anderson County mayor, sheriff, register of deeds, circuit court clerk, general sessions judges (Division 1 and 2), and juvenile court judge. They have been invited to speak and answer questions, a press release said.

Candidates who are unopposed for county clerk, trustee, road superintendent, chancellor, criminal and circuit court judge, district attorney general, and public defender will be introduced. [Read more…]

Friends host ‘meet and greet’ for judicial candidate Ryan Spitzer

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Ryan Spitzer

Ryan Spitzer

Friends of Ryan Spitzer, a candidate for General Sessions Judge Division 1, will host a “meet and greet” and fundraising reception for Spitzer from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Hensley Happenings Cafe and Grill in Norris.

The event is hosted by George and Kay Davis, Catherine Denenberg, Susan Fowler, Warren and Judy Gooch, C.A. and Judy Ridge, and Jim Ed and Sharon Wallace. They invite voters to come by and meet Spitzer, an attorney who has more than a decade of legal experience in criminal and civil law, a press release said. Refreshments will be served.

Spitzer has served as an assistant district attorney general in Anderson County since 2007. He is unopposed as the Democratic candidate for General Sessions judge in the May 6 primary election. [Read more…]

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…]