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

Posted at 9:45 pm August 7, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

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…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, 2014 Election, Anderson County, Government, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Allen C.H. Loope, Anderson County, Anderson County Commission, Anthony Allen, Anthony Lay, Bill Gallaher, Bradley Rickett, Brian Hunt, Caitlin Nolan, Carl Beaty, Chris Phillips, Chuck Fleischmann, Chuck Fritts, Circuit Court Clerk, Dave Clark, David Farmer, Denny Phillips, Don Elledge, Don Layton, Dusty Irwin, election results, Floyd Grisham, Gary Long, general election, General Sessions Judge, Herb “Herbie” Foust, Jeff Cole, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jim Hackworth, Jimmy Bouchard, Joey Anderson, John Ragan, Josh Anderson, juvenile court judge, Kevin Rice, Leslie Agron, Lynn Byrge, Mark Alderson, mayor, Michael Clement, Mike Marsh, Misty Neergaard, Myra Mansfield, Myron Iwanski, Nicki Cantrell, Paul White, Philip Warfield, Randy McNally, register of deeds, Rick Meredith, Robert McKamey, Robin Biloski, Rodney Archer, Roger Miller, Ron Murch, Ryan Spitzer, school board, Scott Gillenwaters, sheriff, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Tennessee House of Representatives, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tim Shelton, Tom Marshall, Tracy Wandell, Tyler Mayes, Walt Lounsbery, Whitey Hitchcock, William Jones

Ragan runs on record; Nolan questions his representation

Posted at 6:48 pm August 6, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

John Ragan

John Ragan

He’s running for his third term in the Tennessee House, touting his record on state energy policy and trimming government. His challenger questions his record on representing the children and residents of the district, rather than special interests.

The two Republican candidates for the House seat in District 33, which includes most of Anderson County, are the incumbent, Representative John Ragan, and his GOP challenger, Caitlin Nolan. They will face off in the state Republican primary on Thursday.

It’s not clear who the winner will face in November. Misty Neergaard, the only candidate listed on the ballot in the state Democratic primary, has dropped out of the race, although she withdrew too late for her name to be taken off the ballot. There is a write-in candidate on the Democratic ticket, Leslie Agron of Oak Ridge.

During an interview last week, Ragan said legislators have eliminated 14 government organizations in the past two years, and a dozen legislative committees have been cut.

He said he’s helped to make state energy policy a top priority.

Asked about the challenge posed by Nolan, Ragan said: “It’s a race. My opponent is making me work hard, which is good for the voters even if it’s a strain on the candidates.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Americans for Prosperity, Anderson County, anti-bullying, Beth Harwell, bullying, Caitlin Nolan, Charles Koch, child abuse, Classroom Protection Act, David Koch, Democratic primary, discrimination, District 33, Don't Say Gay, education spending, energy policy, House bill, House District 33, Jim Hackworth, John Ragan, K-12, legislation, Leslie Agron, Marcel Neergaard, Misty Neergaard, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge High School, petition, Republican primary, school vouchers, special interests, StudentsFirst, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee House, U.S. Department of Energy

Guest column: Burying the facts

Posted at 1:46 am July 19, 2014
By Leslie Agron 4 Comments

In his guest column on July 4, Tennessee Representative John Ragan requests us to cast our ballots to hold government accountable. This is an excellent idea!

Hidden in Mr. Ragan’s rhetoric about IRS tyranny is the underlying economic policy he espouses: the notion that cutting taxes will lead us to prosperity in all circumstances. Our nation’s experiment with that fanciful notion has been a miserable failure for the last 30 years, causing incredible hardship on our people. It is now overwhelmingly discredited by economists from both sides of the aisle.

Mr. Ragan would likely be good enough with mathematics to have studied economics, but he seems to not have done so. In fact, it appears he learned his economics, not from the best in the field, but from politicians and the media. This has been greatly to the detriment of Tennessee.

In his 400-word column about government, Mr. Ragan mentions God four times—lest anyone be in doubt about his theory of governance. Despite the fact he lives in Oak Ridge and must surely know that this region is blessed by the diverse people drawn here from around the world by the scientific facilities, he chooses to represent only those who share his exact beliefs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: Democratic primary, District 33, economic policy, economics, gays, government, John Ragan, lesbians, Leslie Agron, Misty Neergaard, taxes, Tennessee House of Representatives, write-in candidacy

Inspired by her son, Neergaard runs for state House

Posted at 10:42 am May 7, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Misty Neergaard

Misty Neergaard

Inspired by her son’s efforts to shed light on the effects of bullying, Oak Ridge resident Misty Neergaard is running for the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Neergaard is unopposed in the state Democratic primary in District 33, which includes most of Anderson County, on Aug. 7. She will take on the winner of the Republican primary, which pits Rep. John Ragan, the incumbent, against newcomer Caitlin Nolan.

In a press release, Neergaard said her focus is on the need for Anderson County voters to have a voice in the Tennessee House.

“All too often Tennessee and its citizens are portrayed in a negative public light, Neergaard said in the release. “I know the people in Anderson County are kind and hard-working. They deserve a government who cares about them instead of scoring political points. Our family has been through some tough times, and the people of East Tennessee have been wonderfully supportive. It is time I give back.”

The release said Neergaard has been a dedicated mother and housewife for 18 years. Last summer, her son Marcel Neergaard created an online petition to help bring the effects of school bullying to light, the release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, bullying, Caitlin Nolan, District 33, education, jobs, John Ragan, Marcel Neergaard, Misty Neergaard, Oak Ridge, school bullying, Tennessee House of Representatives

Most Anderson commissioners seek re-election, six running in District 7 in OR

Posted at 12:47 pm April 4, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Courthouse

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

There are six candidates running for Anderson County Commission in District 7 in Oak Ridge in August, and a Democrat has joined the race for Tennessee House of Representatives in the 33rd District.

Meanwhile, an Independent, Bradley S. Rickett, has joined the race for Anderson County mayor, competing against Democrat Jim Hackworth and the winner of the May 6 Republican primary, either the incumbent, Terry Frank, or her challenger, Commissioner Zach Bates.

Fourteen of the 16 Anderson County commissioners are seeking re-election to a four-year term. But Bates, from District 4 in the Lake City area, is not. And neither is Commissioner John Shuey. Shuey is one of two commissioners in District 7, which includes the Glenwood, Highland View, and Pine Valley precincts in Oak Ridge.

District 7 is the most competitive in terms of number of candidates. In addition to the incumbent, Jerry Creasey, other candidates include Jimmy Bouchard, Michael Marsh, Denny Phillips, Kevin Rice, and Theresa Scott.

District 3—which includes Andersonville, Fairview, Glen Alpine, and Norris—has five candidates, including the two incumbents, Steve Emert and Dusty Irwin. The other three candidates are Josh Anderson, David Farmer, and Philip Warfield. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Anderson County, Education, Government, Government, K-12, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: 33rd District, 36th District, Allen C.H. Loope, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County mayor, Andersonville, Anthony Allen, Bradley S. Rickett, Briceville, Caitlin Nolan, Carl D. Beaty, Chris Phillips, Chuck Fritts, Claxton, Clinton, county general, David Farmer, Democrat, Dennis Powers, Denny Phillips, Don Bell, Dusty Irwin, election, Floyd E. Grisham, Greg Crawford, Harry "Whitey" Hitchcock, Herb “Herbie” Foust, James Virgil Kidwell, Jerry Creasey, Jerry White, Jim Hackworth, Jimmy Bouchard, Jo Williams, Joey Anderson, John Ragan, John Shuey, Joseph H. VanHook, Josh Anderson, Kevin Rice, Lake City, Landle “Lynn” Byrge, Mark Alderson, Marlow, Michael Marsh, Misty Neergaard, Myra Mansfield, Myron Iwanski, Norris, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Philip Warfield, primary election, Ramona L. Walker, Republican, Rick Meredith, Robert McKamey, Robin Biloski, Rosedale, Scott Gillenwaters, Steve Emert, Steve Fritts, Steve Mead, Teresa Portwood, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott, Tim Isbel, Tracy L. Wandell, Walt Lounsbery, Zach Bates

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Classifieds

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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