Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Hunt the wise choice for Juvenile Court judge

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Brian Hunt

Brian Hunt

To the Editor:

The upcoming primary elections offer us an opportunity to select a very well-qualified candidate for the Juvenile Court judge position. Brian Hunt brings integrity, discipline, dedication, a commitment to public service, and human warmth to this critical role. The importance of a person of Brian’s character for a position that both protects children and intervenes when young people err cannot be overstressed.

Young people too often suffer at the hands of those who should protect and care for them. The Juvenile Court judge guarantees that such suffering stops and a more secure and loving environment is provided. The judge can guarantee that parents receive the assistance better to meet their children’s welfare, as well as supervising and assuring that foster care and adoptions are appropriate and well-placed, monitored, and supported. For children at risk, the Juvenile Court judge is a refuge for children who otherwise have few other resources. [Read more…]

Letter: Applauds Biloski’s plan to set up community outreach for youth

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To the Editor:

Lauren Biloski, candidate for Juvenile Court judge, is running against some good competition but nonetheless stands head and shoulders above her competition.

Lauren is by far the most experienced of all the candidates, having practiced law in almost all of the areas a juvenile judge will preside over.

But more than that, Lauren Biloski has a plan. Her plan addresses the root causes of juvenile delinquency: the family. Using interagency cooperation and getting to the root of the family issues will have a positive impact on the young people of Anderson County. [Read more…]

Letter: Biloski has temperament, experience, open mind for judge seat

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To the Editor:

We are writing to request your support for Lauren Biloski for the next Juvenile Court judge of Anderson County. Every vote is important for Anderson County as the last election for Juvenile Court judge ended in a tie that had to be decided by County Commission.

We believe Lauren to be an experienced, passionate advocate for children’s rights. She is running on a platform of protecting children and preserving families. She has the most experience of any candidate in the race. She will strive to have a positive impact on the children who reach the judicial system in this county.

Lauren has the temperament, experience, and open mind to serve as Juvenile Court judge.

Tom and Lila Metcalf

Oak Ridge

Without Republicans, little opposition, few questions at League forum

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David Dunkirk and J. Michael Clement

David R. Dunkirk, left, and J. Michael Clement, Democratic candidates for Juvenile Court judge in the May 6 Anderson County primary election, answer questions during a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge on Tuesday. (Photo by Sara Wise)

Note: This story was last updated at 9:10 a.m.

There was little opposition and only a few questions at a Tuesday night candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

All of the Democratic candidates were at the League forum, which was held in the Pollard Auditorium at Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

But most of the Republican candidates were a few blocks away at their own forum, and none of them attended the League forum. Still, many sent representatives to speak on their behalf.

The dueling forums were held with less than a month remaining before the May 6 primary election. Most of the competition is on the Republican side, with more than one GOP candidate for mayor, sheriff, chancellor, and Juvenile Court judge. The only contested Democratic race is for juvenile judge. [Read more…]

Letter: Capt. Hunt an ‘excellent choice’ for juvenile judge

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To the Editor:

I have supervised Capt. Brian Hunt in the U.S. Army Reserve 139th Legal Operations Detachment (LOD) for the past two years. I serve as a team leader for a team of attorneys and paralegals. I have been a licensed attorney for 13 years and an Army Reserve officer for over 20 years, including nine years on active duty. Capt. Hunt is a judge advocate (military attorney) assigned to my team.

Since joining the 139th LOD, Capt. Hunt has served in an exemplary manner. He has done extremely well at all soldier skills, including physical fitness training and weapons qualification, as well as attorney skills. He was assigned by our detachment commander to manage the medical readiness program for the unit and has done exceptionally well in ensuring unit soldiers receive the proper medical examinations and vaccinations in a timely manner. Thanks to his management of the program, our unit medical readiness is the best in the Legal Command. [Read more…]

Letter: Urges voters to support Biloski for juvenile judge

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To the Editor:

We would like to urge Anderson County voters to support Lauren Biloski for Juvenile Court judge in the upcoming election.

Lauren is an Oak Ridge resident and a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. After graduating in 2003 from the University of Tennessee, she obtained her juris doctorate degree from Indiana University’s School of Law in 2006.

Lauren’s dedication to children and families is noteworthy. While in law school, Lauren was a volunteer for Child Advocates Inc., an organization providing child-focused representation to every child in Indianapolis suffering from abuse or neglect, as well as for Peyton’s pals, a program established by Peyton Manning to provide children in foster care with necessities including clothing and computers for school. [Read more…]

Voters can meet candidates for contested Anderson County offices on April 15

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Democracy for East Tennessee

From left to right, DFET members Charles Jones, Joan Cassens, and Tom Burns review the 2014 Anderson County primary ballot while planning a “meet the candidate” event. (Submitted photo)

Democracy for East Tennessee has organized an April 15 event that will allow Anderson County voters the chance to meet candidates for four county offices before the May 6 primary election.

The four contested races are for Anderson County mayor, sheriff, chancellor, and Juvenile Court judge. Other offices on the primary ballot are not contested.

The “meet the candidates” event is scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s A/B Room.

“Democracy for East Tennessee is sponsoring this event so citizens of Anderson County can become better acquainted with the candidates for four Anderson County offices before the primary election on May 6,” the organization said in a press release. [Read more…]

Anderson County Republicans also have April 8 candidate forum

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have an April 8 forum for GOP candidates running for county offices in the May 6 primary election.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. It’s expected to last about two hours, a press release said.

“This year’s election is especially important for Anderson County’s future,” said Aaron Wells, chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party. “A forum will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase our great candidates and the Republican vision for the county. We invite folks to join us for what should be an interesting and informative evening. ”

The Republican Party forum is scheduled at the same time and the same night as a candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The League forum is for both Democratic and Republican candidates in the May 6 primary elections. It’s not clear yet if either event might be rescheduled to allow Republican candidates to attend both. [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…]

Biloski running for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge

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Lauren Biloski

Lauren Biloski

Lauren R. Biloski has announced that she is seeking the office of Anderson County Juvenile Court judge.

Lauren is a partner at Ritter, Biloski, and Associates, located in Oak Ridge. She has developed a thriving multi-county practice that includes criminal defense, civil litigation, and family and juvenile law, a press release said.

She is the third candidate to announce a candidacy for juvenile court judge. The current judge, Brandon Fisher, is running for Anderson County chancellor.

Biloski is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tennesseee at Knoxville in three years, the press release said. Immediately following graduation, she earned her J.D. from Indiana University in 2006, where she was the recipient of the Norman Lefstein Award of Excellence. [Read more…]

Fisher to run for Anderson County chancellor in 2014

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Brandon FIsher

Brandon FIsher

He’s been the juvenile court judge for close to four years, and now Brandon Fisher is running for Anderson County chancellor in the 2014 election.

Fisher was appointed Anderson County juvenile court judge in January 2010, replacing April Meldrum after she resigned, and he was elected in August 2010.

Fisher will seek to fill the seat now held by Chancellor William Lantrip, who has announced he will retire at the end of this eight-year term. [Read more…]