Oak Ridge Today

Republican forum: Issues range from jobs, retail to drug courts, trial experience

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Anderson County Republican Party Forum

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, gives an opening statement during a Tuesday night candidate forum for Republican Party candidates. Also pictured are Anderson County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, who is challenging Frank in the May 6 GOP primary, and Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Randy Myers, one of two Republican candidates for sheriff.

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m.

The starkest differences between any candidates at a Tuesday night Republican Party forum might have emerged in the race for Anderson County chancellor, where candidates Michael Farley and Nicki Cantrell clashed on questions of trial experience and whether the Chancery Court should ever be used to hear criminal cases.

In the race for sheriff, Republican candidates Anthony Lay and Randy Myers agreed on one key question: No federal inmates should be housed at the Anderson County jail.

In the race for mayor, Terry Frank, the incumbent, said she had presided over one of the few—and possibly the only—tax cut in Anderson County history, while her opponent, Commissioner Zach Bates, said the county’s biggest economic challenge is “retail leakage.” [Read more…]

Letter: Biloski committed to community, can make constructive changes

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To the Editor:

In the upcoming May election, I will be voting for Lauren Biloski, Republican candidate for juvenile judge.

This seat, which is being vacated by our present juvenile judge, is vitally important to several quality-of-life issues for so many families in Anderson County. We need to make sure we elect the best person to fill this position. I have known Lauren and her family for many years in Oak Ridge. Lauren graduated from Oak Ridge Schools, came back to our community to practice family law, and has extensive experience in assisting families with a variety of difficult issues. [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…]

Letter: Will vote for Biloski for juvenile judge

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To the Editor:

In the upcoming election, I will vote for Lauren Biloski, Republican candidate, because I have known Lauren and her family for many years.

Her mother is a respected county commissioner, and her father has been active in community affairs. She is a graduate of Oak Ridge schools and has returned to practice family law. She has donated her services to community organizations, especially animal welfare.

Paul Spray, MD

Oak Ridge

Letter: Animal protection group endorses Biloski for juvenile judge

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To the Editor:

Tennessee Voters for Animal Protection—a non-partisan, grassroots political action committee—announced their endorsement of Lauren Biloski for Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge on Tuesday.

“Lauren Biloski has been a consistent advocate for animals through her animal rescue work as well as representing rescue groups in a legal capacity, said Anjie Crow, TVAP’s president. “If elected as Juvenile Court judge, Bilsoki plans to bring the H.A.B.I.T. program into Court, which would allow animals to calm children who are testifying. She would also be tough on juveniles who commit crimes against animals and get them the help they need.” [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…]

Anderson County primary deadline Thursday at noon

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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:

  • So far, only incumbent Judge Don Elledge has qualified to run for his seat as criminal and circuit judge.
  • Five people have qualified to run in the hotly-contested Juvenile Court judge primaries. Two Democrats—J. Michael Clement and David Dunkirk—are seeking the nomination, while three Republicans—Victoria Bannach, Lauren Biloski, and Brian Hunt—have qualified to seek their party’s nod to run for the seat in the August general election.
  • Brandon Fisher, the current Juvenile Court judge, had qualified to run for the Democratic nomination for chancellor, a seat coming open due to the retirement of William Lantrip, but he announced just a couple of weeks ago that he will be dropping out of the race to join a company in Pennsylvania. On the Republican side, Mike Farley and Phil Harber have qualified to appear on the May ballot. [Read more…]

A candidate for juvenile judge, Biloski has two meet-and-greets

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Lauren Biloski

Lauren Biloski

The Committee to Elect Lauren Biloski for Anderson County Juvenile Judge is planning two public events in Oak Ridge and Clinton to allow voters to meet her, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge event is Thursday, Jan. 30, at Centennial Village Apartments on Edgemoor Road from 4-6:30 p.m., and the Clinton event will be at the Clinton Community Center from 4-6:30 p.m. on Feb. 4.

“Please join Lauren and her committee to discuss relevant issues on that important position for Anderson County,” a press release said. [Read more…]

So far, five candidates for juvenile judge, four for sheriff, three for chancellor

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Anderson County Courthouse

The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above.

So far, there are five potential candidates for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge, four for sheriff, and three for chancellor.

An independent has picked up a petition to run for county mayor, possibly opposing Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, and Tennessee Rep. John Ragan has an opponent in the Aug. 7 Republican primary.

The five candidates for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge are Victoria “Vickie” Bannach, a Clinton Republican; Lauren Biloski, an Oak Ridge Republican; Victoria Bowling, a Heiskell Democrat; J. Michael Clement, a Clinton Democrat; and Brian J. Hunt, a Clinton Republican. They are candidates in the May 6 county primary.

The current juvenile court judge, Brandon Fisher, a Clinton Democrat, is running for Anderson County chancellor in that election. The other two chancellor candidates are Phil Harber, a Clinton Republican, and Robert Warren Wilkinson, an Oak Ridge Republican. [Read more…]