Frank wins mayor race; sheriff will face Aug. 6 opponent
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A voter walks away from Andersonville Elementary School after casting his ballot during last Tuesday’s (May 5) county primary election. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Voters walk into the polling location at the Norris Com- munity Building during last Tuesday’s Anderson County primary election. - G. Chambers Williams III
With no Democrat or independent candidate on the ballot for the Aug. 6 Anderson County general election, county Mayor Terry Frank easily won re-election in last week’s Republican primary, outpolling challenger Joshua Anderson 56%-44%.
The vote totals were 4,822 for Frank and 3,786 for Anderson, who has been a District 3 county commissioner for the past two four-year terms.
At 10:24 p.m. election night, when the vote tallies were completed, Frank posted this message on her Facebook page:
“The final votes are in, and I want to thank all the wonderful people of Anderson County who voted for me. I promise to continue working hard and I am so forever grateful!
“I want to thank Josh Anderson and all the candidates who put their names out there to lead our county. You belong to a brave, elite group of courageous souls.
“I especially want to thank all of those who worked for so hard for me and believed in me —including my family that I love so much. I owe so much to your hard work.
“And lastly, but certainly not least, I want to thank all those who prayed for me. I know that God closes doors and opens doors and I was ready to go wherever He wanted. I only live, breathe and walk by his grace and mercy. Thank you, God, for giving me the privilege of serving the people of our county again,” she said.
In the only other contested countywide race. Sheriff Russell Barker handily defeated challenger David G. Davis 80.8%-19.2% in the GOP primary, but still must face independent candidate Colt Jennings in the Aug. 6 general election.
Also in the Republican primary, four of the eight districts had three or more candidates running for nomination to the two available seats in each.
• District 1 Republican winners Chad McNabb (58.72%) and Raymond Neil Phillips (41.28%) will face incumbent Tracy Wandell, who is running as an independent, in the general election.
• In District 2, incumbents Michael Foster (35.3%) and Denise Palmer (40.6%) won their races against a third candidate, Clinton broadcaster Ron Meredith (24.08%). They face independent candidate Tina Graham Targonski in the general election. Palmer is the current chair of the County Commission.
• District 3, GOP candidates ran unopposed. They are incumbent Shelly Vandagriff (53%) and newcomer Shannon Gray (47%). They face a single opponent, Democrat Rodney Archer, in the general election.
• For District 4, incumbents Tim Isbel (45.27%) and J. Shain Vowell (36.23%) won over challenger Amy Jones (18.51%). The winners have no opponents in the general election.
• In District 5, incumbents Robert McKamey (31.15%) and Jeff Pack (44%) outpolled Karin Martin Partin (15.85%) and Barbara Vickery (9%) in the Republican primary. The two winners face Democrat Martin “Marty” May in the general election.
• District 6 winners in the GOP primary were incumbent Anthony Allen (43.06%) and former commissioner Aaron Wells (56.94%). They face Democrat incumbent Ebony Capshaw and Democrat newcomer Derek Guy in the general election.
• For District 7, incumbent Sabra Beauchamp (51.45%) and newcomer Nathan Mullins (48.55%) won the GOP nominations. They face Democrat incumbent Steve Verran and Democrat challenger Sharon Bourgeois Capshaw in the general election.
• And in District 8, GOP primary winners Jawrell Cook (34.19%) and Don A. Layton (33.91%) defeated challenger Emily S. Wallace (31.9%). The GOP winners face Democrats Ashley Craven and Elizabeth “Liz” Henry, and independent incumbent Phil Yager in the general election.
Only the incumbents qualified to run for the other five countywide positions, all in the Republican primary. They have no general-election opponents.
They are Rex Lynch for Circuit Court clerk, Regina Copeland for county trustee, Jeff Cole for county clerk, Tim Shelton for register of deeds, and Gary Long for road superintendent.
Property Assessor John Alley’s position is not on this year’s ballot, nor are any of the judgeships.
Four of the eight county School Board district seats are up for election this year, for a four-year term.
The open seats are in School Board Districts,1, 2, 6 and 7.
Candidates have qualified for all four of the open seats, but three candidates – in Districts 1, 6 and 7 – are running as independents and will be only on the general election ballot on Aug. 6.
Districts 1 and 2 have one candidate each running unopposed in the Republican primary May 5.
Candidates began filing for the various county positions when registration officially opened Dec. 22.
The county mayor serves a four-year term, but Frank was initially elected to fill out the two years remaining on the term of her predecessor, who resigned mid-term. She was re-elected to four-year terms in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
School Board candidates who have qualified:
• District 1 – Ray Hagan (R), Jo Williams, independent (Aug. 6 ballot only).
• District 2 – Katherine Birkbeck (R).
• District 6 – Scott Gillenwaters, independent (Aug. 6 ballot only).
• District 7 – Don A. Bell, independent (Aug. 6 ballot only).
Early voting for the Aug. 6 general election will run from July 17-Aug. 1.
