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Seven of eight term-limit candidates defeated in Charter Commission race

Posted at 1:23 am November 9, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Bob Smallridge

Pictured above is Bob Smallridge, a District 8 candidate who received the most votes of any candidate for Anderson County Charter Commission. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Steve Emert

Pictured above is Steve Emert, a District 3 candidate who received the second-highest number of votes in the Anderson County Charter Commission election.

Seven of the eight candidates who said they will support term limits if elected to a new charter commission lost in the Tuesday election, according to unofficial election results posted by the Anderson County Election Commission.

In District 1 (Claxton, Bull Run), V.L. Stonecipher, a former director of Anderson County Schools, defeated Floyd Grisham, the term-limit candidate, by 1,500 votes to 1,292. A third candidate, Tim Risden, had 412 votes.

In District 2 (Clinton), Anderson County Commissioner Mark Alderson beat Jim Cooper, the term-limit candidate, 1,954 to 1,340.

In District 3 (Andersonville, Norris), Steve Emert, the Anderson County Commission chair, earned about 300 votes more than former commissioner Dusty Irwin, the term-limit candidate. Emert had 2,157 votes to Irwin’s 1,846.

In District 4 (Briceville, Rocky Top), Tim Isbel, an Anderson County commissioner, defeated Dennis Hashbarger, the term-limit candidate, 1,567 to 1,024. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Bob Smallridge, David G. Stanley, Dennis Hashbarger, Dusty Irwin, Floyd Grisham, Howard Farmer, Hugh Ward, Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Mark Alderson, Robert McKamey, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, term limits, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Risden, V.L. Stonecipher

Term-limit candidates trail in early voting

Posted at 9:05 pm November 8, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Bob Smallridge

Bob Smallridge

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:30 a.m.

Seven of the eight candidates who said they will support term limits if elected to a new charter commission are behind in early voting, according to unofficial results posted on the Anderson County Election Commission website on Tuesday evening.

In District 1 (Claxton, Bull Run), Floyd Grisham, the term-limit candidate, trails V.L. Stonecipher by 1,019 early votes to 831. A third candidate, Tim Risden, had 286 early votes.

In District 2 (Clinton), Jim Cooper, the term-limit candidate, is behind Mark Alderson, an Anderson County commission 1,430 to 922.

In District 3 (Andersonville, Norris), Steve Emert, the Anderson County Commission chair, leads former commissioner Dusty Irwin, the term-limit candidate, 1,541 to 1,323.

In District 4 (Rocky Top), Tim Isbel, an Anderson County commissioner, is ahead of Dennis Hashbarger, the term-limit candidate, 773 to 620. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Election Commission, Bob Smallridge, David Stanley, Dennis Hashbarger, Dusty Irwin, Floyd Grisham, Howard Farmer, Hugh Ward, Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Mark Alderson, Robert McKamey, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, term limits, term-limit candidates, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Risden, V.L. Stonecipher

Term limits: Who could no longer serve if two-term limit was in place now?

Posted at 1:20 pm October 26, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Jerry Creasey

Jerry Creasey, an Anderson County commissioner from Oak Ridge, could no longer serve if a two-term limit were in place now. Now in his seventh term, Creasey is the longest-serving commissioner. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:15 p.m.

If the proposed two-term limit was in place now, Jerry Creasey, the longest-serving Anderson County commissioner, could no longer serve.

Neither could Mark Alderson, who is in his fifth term; Chuck Fritts or Jerry White (both are in their fourth terms); or Whitey Hitchcock, Robert McKamey, or Tracy Wandell (all three are in their third terms).

Creasey is in his seventh term, according to information from the Anderson County Election Commission.

It’s not clear if Myron Iwanski would be term-limited at this point. Iwanski is in his sixth term, but those terms were interrupted by his service as interim Anderson County mayor from January 2011 to August 2012—after former mayor Rex Lynch resigned and before current mayor Terry Frank was elected. Whether Iwanski would be term-limited would depend upon whether term limits, assuming a two-term limit was enacted, were consecutive or lifetime limits.

Assuming Iwanski was term-limited, though, that would mean that eight of the 16 commissioners, or half of them, would be past their second term and not able to serve if a two-term limit were in place.

No term limits are in place now, and they can’t officially be proposed, debated, or recommended to voters until after the eight-member Anderson County Charter Commission is elected November 8. Whether they are even considered is likely to depend upon which candidates are elected. The Charter Commission is not obligated to consider term limits, but it will have the authority to do so. (See a story on the Charter Commission process here.) [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Election Commission, Chuck Fritts, Floyd Grisham, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Mark Alderson, Myron Iwanski, Phil Yager, Philip Warfield, Rex Lynch, Rick Meredith, Robert McKamey, Shain Vowell, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, term limits, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tracy Wandell, Whitey Hitchcock

Letter: Anderson Charter endorses candidates based on survey responses

Posted at 1:13 pm October 25, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

Organizers of the Anderson County Charter movement have announced their endorsement of candidates who will support term limits, as well as announcing the formation of their Political Action Committee “Anderson Charter.”

To help Anderson County voters make informed decisions in the upcoming November 8 election, AndersonCharter.com sent the 19 Charter Commission candidates a questionnaire soliciting their views on a charter form of local government for Anderson County.

Only nine candidates returned the questionnaire, eight of which agreed or strongly agreed to the formation of a charter and to support term limits for the members of County Commission and the Office of Mayor. Concerning these issues, candidate Marjorie Lloyd responded “Don’t Know.” Verified candidates in support of term limits, as well as candidates supporting citizen speech and transparency in government are: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters, Opinion Tagged With: Anderson County Charter, AndersonCharter.com, Bob Smallridge, Charter Commission, county commission, David Stanley, Dennis Hashbarger, Dusty Irwin, Floyd Grisham, Howard Farmer, Hugh Ward, Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Mark Alderson, Robert McKamey, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, term limits, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, V.L. Stonecipher

Charter Commission candidates debate term limits, reducing County Commission, electing law director

Posted at 9:14 am October 25, 2016
By John Huotari 3 Comments

anderson-county-oak-ridge-charter-commission-candidates-collage

Seven candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission sparred over term limits, cutting the Anderson County Commission almost in half, and electing the law director during a public forum in Oak Ridge in October. The candidates, all from three Oak Ridge districts, are pictured above. They are, from top left, top row, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Steve Mead, Kathy Moore, Theresa Scott, and from bottom left, bottom row, Bob Smallridge, David Stanley, and Hugh Ward. (Photos by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission sparred over term limits, cutting the Anderson County Commission almost in half, and electing the law director during a public forum this month.

There was also a heated exchange over whether two candidates—both county commissioners, including one in her first term and another halfway through his second—are permanent officeholders.

The seven candidates are running for three seats on the eight-member Anderson County Charter Commission in the November 8 election.

The debate over term limits has focused on whether the limits are necessary, whether they would encourage more young people to run for office, and whether Anderson County voters already have the right to impose term limits through elections, among other arguments for and against.

As proposed during the campaign, there could be a two-term limit on county commissioners and the county mayor. However, nothing will be official until the Charter Commission is elected next month, and the Charter Commission is not obligated to consider the proposal. Whether the commission even considers term limits could depend upon which candidates are elected. Any changes proposed by the Charter Commission will be considered by voters in November 2018. If approved, they would go into effect in September 2019. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Commission, Bob Smallridge, Charter Commission, David Stanley, District 6, District 7, District 8, Hugh Ward, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, law director, League of Women Voters, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Myron Iwanski, November 8 election, Oak Ridge, Steve Mead, term limits, Theresa Scott

Cooper, a Vietnam veteran, longtime industrial recruiter, running for Charter Commission in District 2

Posted at 2:29 pm October 20, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jim Cooper

Jim Cooper

Jim Cooper, a Vietnam veteran and former president of the Melton Hill Regional Industrial Association, is running for one of eight seats on the Anderson County Charter Commission in the November 8 election.

Cooper is running for the District 2 seat. District 2 includes the Clinton Community Center, South Clinton, and North Clinton voting precincts.

“The City of Clinton has had a charter form of government since 1954, and instituting a charter government in Anderson County presents our county with the opportunity to enact term limits,” Cooper said. “I support term limits (two consecutive four-year terms) for the offices of county commissioners and mayor. I also support electing commissioners for staggered terms—meaning we don’t elect all 16 in just one election year.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Government Tagged With: ACEDA, Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Economic Development Association, Clinton, District 2, Jim Cooper, Melton Hill Regional Industrial Association, staggered terms, term limits, Vietnam veteran

Forum for Anderson County Charter Commission candidates on Thursday

Posted at 5:08 pm October 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A Thursday forum will feature candidates for Charter Commission in five districts in Anderson County.

The forum starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 20, in the “Big Room” at Clinton Community Center, which is at 101 Hicks Street in Clinton, a press release said. The forum is hosted by AndersonCharter.com.

There are 19 people running for eight seats on the Anderson County Charter Commission. Only one person from each County Commission district will be elected to the Charter Commission.

Organizers of the charter effort hope to give residents the ability to have more input and involvement in their local government, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Charter Commission, Bob Smallridge, Charter Commission, Clinton Community Center, David Stanley, Dennis Hashbarger, District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, Dusty Irwin, Floyd E. Grisham, Howard L. Farmer, Hugh B. Ward Jr., Jerry White, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Mark Alderson, Robert McKamey, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Risden, V.L. Stonecipher

Mead, a county commissioner, running for Charter Commission

Posted at 2:22 pm October 18, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Steve Mead

Steve Mead

Steve Mead, an Anderson County commissioner representing an Oak Ridge district, is running for one of eight seats on the Anderson County Charter Commission in the November 8 election.

Mead has expressed some concerns about term limits, at least as proposed in Anderson County this campaign season. Term limits have become one of the defining issues of the Charter Commission campaign, although nothing official will be proposed, debated, or approved until after the eight-member commission is elected next month.

In a press release, Mead said eight candidates have made term limits the primary focus of their campaign. He said those eight candidates were recruited by Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and her supporters, although at least two candidates—Jim Cooper and Kathy Moore—have denied that in statements to Oak Ridge Today.

Mead said he supports term limits for career politicians that make a living from their elected offices. That’s similar to the position taken by other nation-wide organizations like U.S. Term Limits Inc., Mead said in the press release. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Election, Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Charter Commission, Anderson County Commission, Charter Commission, Hugh Ward, Jim Cooper, Kathy Moore, open meetings, part-time citizen legislators, Steve Mead, term limits, Terry Frank

Groundbreaking Thursday for UPF Construction Support Building

Posted at 3:24 pm August 22, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (File photo courtesy Y-12)

 

A groundbreaking has been scheduled for Thursday morning for the three-story Construction Support Building for the multi-billion dollar Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex.

This will be the first construction for the UPF project that starts to change the skyline of the Y-12 National Security Complex, a media advisory said.

It said UPF will be a first-of-its-kind complex that supports enriched uranium operations for Y-12 missions. The National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, is using a “build to budget” strategy and has committed to Congress to provide these facilities by 2025 for no more than $6.5 billion, the advisory said.

“As one of the largest construction projects in Tennessee history, UPF will have a significant impact on local and state economies, the advisory said.

Those expected to participate in the Thursday groundbreaking are NNSA Administrator General Frank Klotz, Congressman Jim Cooper, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Commander and District Engineer LTC Stephen Murphy, and UPF Federal Project Director Dale Christenson. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Chuck Fleischmann, construction project, Construction Support Building, Dale Christenson, enriched uranium operations, Frank Klotz, groundbreaking, Jim Cooper, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Stephen Murphy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, UPF, UPF Project Office, uranium processing facility, Warren Gooch, Y-12 National Security Complex

Tennessee legislators request support for TennCare waiver extension

Posted at 12:40 pm December 28, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Submitted

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nine members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation sent a letter this month to Marilyn Tavenner, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, requesting an extension of TennCare’s waiver approval from earlier this year.

Because Tennessee does not receive funding through the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital, or DSH, program that every other state participates in, the lawmakers are requesting continuing funds to support Tennessee hospitals that help tens of thousands of low-income patients receive medical coverage they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. Just last year, these hospitals provided $950 million in charity care and $720 million in unreimbursed medical services to low-income Tennesseans.

Unlike hospitals in every other state, Tennessee hospitals are unable to offset these expenses with the help of the Medicaid DSH program. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: Bob Corker, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, charity care, Chuck Fleischmann, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, Department of Health and Human Services, Diane Blac, disproportionate share hospital, DSH, Essential Hospital Access, health care, hospitals, House Ways and Means Hospital Improvements for Payment Act of 2014, Jim Cooper, John Duncan Jr., Lamar Alexander, low-income patients, Marilyn Tavenner, Marsha Blackburn, Medicaid, Medicaid DSH, medical coverage, Phil Roe, Steve Cohen, TennCare, TennCare waiver, Tennessee, unreimbursed medical services

Picture: Rep. Jim Cooper tours ORNL

Posted at 3:43 pm July 30, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper Visits ORNL

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason, left, and Johnny Moore, center, site office manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, escort U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Tennessee’s Fifth District, on a tour of ORNL. (ORNL/Genevieve Martin)

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, a Nashville Democrat from Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Saturday.

Cooper was joined by his Chief of Staff Lisa Quigley as well as Helen Hardin. The group also spent time at the Y-12 National Security Complex before visiting the laboratory.

While at the lab, ORNL Director Thom Mason and Johnny Moore, site office manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, escorted the congressman on a driving tour of campus followed by a tour of the $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source. They later joined ORNL Associate Lab Director for Global Security Brent Park for discussions on the lab’s national security programs, the lab said in a statement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Photos, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Brent Park, congressman, House Armed Services Committee, Jim Cooper, Johnny Moore, Lisa Quigley, national security, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Spallation Neutron Source, Thom Mason, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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