Early voting begins Friday for county general, state primary elections
The county clerk and trustee’s office in Anderson Crossing shopping center in Norris is one of three early-voting sites for the Aug. 6 election. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
The early voting period will run through noon Saturday, Aug. 1.
The key statewide races are for the Republican and Democratic nominations for governor, which include three GOP candidates and five Democrats.
Leading the Republican ballot, according to the most-recent statewide polls, is U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Her opponents are U.S. Rep. John Rose and Tennessee state Rep. Monty Fritts.
For Anderson County mayor, incumbent Republican Terry Frank has no opponent.
But Sheriff Russell Barker, the Republican nominee for sheriff, faces independent challenger Colt Jennings, one of his former deputies.
There are at least two candidates who made the ballot to run in all eight County Commission districts, for the two available seats in each district. Commissioners serve four-year terms.
Three candidates for County Commission who initially filed to run as Republicans changed their petitions to run instead as independents — Tina Graham Targonski, for District 2, Tracy Wandell for District 1, and Kevin Craig, for District 7. Their names appear on the Aug. 6 ballot.
Only the incumbents qualified to run for the other five countywide positions, all in the Republican primary.
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 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.
Candidates who are on the ballot for Anderson County Commission in the general election (two seats open per district) are:
• District 1 - Chad McNabb (R), Raymond Neil Phillips (R), Tracy Wandell (I).
• District 2 - Michael Y. Foster (R), Denise Palmer (R), Tina Graham Targonski (I).
• District 3 - Shannon Gray (R), Shelley Vandagriff (R), Rodney Archer (D).
• District 4 - Tim Isbel (R), J. Shain Vowell (R).
• District 5 - Martin “Marty” May (D), Robert McKamey (R), Jeff Pack (R).
• District 6 - Anthony Allen (R), Aaron Wells (R); Ebony M. Capshaw (D), Derek Guy (D).
• District 7 - Sabra Beauchamp (R), Nathan Mullins (R), Sharon Bourgeois Capshaw (D), Steve Verran (D), Kevin Craig (I).
• District 8 – Jawrell Cook (R), Don A. Layton (R); Ashley Craven (D), Elizabeth “Liz” Henry (D), Phil Yager (I).
Anderson County School Board candidates are:
• District 1 – Ray Hagan (R), Jo Williams (I).
• District 2 – Katherine Birkbeck (R).
• District 6 – Scott Gillenwaters, independent.
• District 7 – Don A. Bell (I).
For a complete list of offices and candidates for the Aug. 6 ballot, visit acelect.com to see the sample ballot.
Clinton: Clinton Community Center, 101 S. Hicks St., Clinton.
Oak Ridge: Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den), 102 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge.
Andersonville: North Anderson County Government Offices, Anderson Crossing Shopping Center (Norris/Andersonville), 3324 Andersonville Highway, Andersonville..
Hours: All three locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
