The Nov. 3 general election ballot will include candidates for the Anderson County Commission District 8 in a special election to fill the seat that was won by Democrat Elizabeth “Liz” Henry, who has chosen not to take the position.
Qualifying for the seat opened on Tuesday, and will continue through noon Wednesday, Sept. 9, said county Elections Administrator Mark Stephens.
All candidates will run as independents, he said, as there is no time to run a primary first.
Henry informed the county by letter on Monday that for personal reasons, she would not take the oath of office on Tuesday (Sept. 1) with the rest of the 16 commissioners who were successful candidates in the Aug. 6 general election.
She tied with Republican candidate Republican Jawrell Cook as the top vote-getters for the two seats in the district, which serves Emory Valley, Woodland and Hendrix Creek. Both received 749 votes.
Clinton voters will choose candidates for mayor, City Council and the Board of Education in this year’s municipal election.
The mayor’s race features incumbent Scott Burton and challengers Delanie Davis and Stephen McNally.
Rick Meredith and Andrea Townsend are running for City Council Ward 1.
The ward is currently represented by Rob Herrell and Steve Queener.
Brian D. Hatmaker is running unopposed for the Ward 2 City Council seat.
In Ward 3, Cathie Auxier is challenging incumbent Wendy Maness for a seat on the council.
Incumbent Timothy A. Bible is running unopposed for the Clinton Board of Education Ward 2 seat.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The deadline to register to vote in the election is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting will be held Oct. 14-29.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Saturday, Oct. 24.
The candidate qualifying period began June 22, with the qualifying deadline at noon Aug. 20. Candidates had until noon Aug. 27 to withdraw from the election.
With the Nov. 3 election approaching, The Courier News is beginning its election coverage by introducing voters to the candidates seeking to lead the city of Clinton.
Three candidates are running for mayor, and The Courier News asked each to respond to questions about leadership, growth, economic development and the city’s priorities for the next four years.
The first five questions were identical for all three candidates.
The final question was tailored to distinguish between the incumbent’s case for continuing the city’s current direction and the challengers’ case for a change in leadership.
To give candidates the opportunity to speak directly to voters, their responses are being published unedited.
The questions posed were:
1. LEADERSHIP: Why are you running for mayor and what expertise do you possess to hold the office?
2. Economic Development: Clinton has invested heavily in downtown improvements and the results are just beginning to show with new businesses opening.
How would you encourage economic development outside of the downtown area while protecting the character of Clinton and ensuring that growth does not overburden roads, utilities and other city services?
3. Standards: Clinton recently imposed a moratorium involving data-center development while city officials consider how such projects should be regulated.
What standards should Clinton establish for data centers and other large industrial developments, particularly concerning power and water use, noise, traffic and their overall benefit to residents?
4. Priorities: If elected, what would be your top three priorities for Clinton during the next four years, how would you pay for them, and what measurable results should voters use at the end of your term to determine whether you succeeded?
5. GROWTH: Clinton has commercial and industrial development near the interstate, and residential growth is also occurring in that area.
How should the city plan for and invest in the infrastructure, fire protection, utilities, high-speed internet and other services needed to support continued growth?
6. For Davis and McNally: What is the strongest argument for changing leadership at City Hall, and what would you say to voters who believe Clinton needs a new direction?
For Mayor Burton: What is the strongest argument for keeping the current leadership at City Hall, and what would you say to voters who believe Clinton is moving in the right direction and should not change course?
• Auto theft: Clinton police responded to Willow Run at 7 a.m. Aug. 14 after a report of auto theft.
• Fraud/scam: Clinton police responded to Breakers Court at 6:18 p.m. Aug. 15 after a report of fraud involving the fraudulent use or illegal possession of a credit or ATM card.
• Theft: Clinton police responded to 1115 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd. at 3:22 p.m. Aug. 16 after a report of theft.
• Shoplifting: Clinton police responded to Walmart, 150 Tanner Lane, at 4:51 p.m. Aug. 17 after a report of shoplifting.
• Theft: Clinton police responded to 2409 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd. at 3:24 p.m. Aug. 22 after a report of theft.
• Counterfeit money: Clinton police responded to Walmart, 150 Tanner Lane, at 7:54 p.m. Aug. 23 after a report involving counterfeit money.
• Other: Clinton police responded to 110 E. Centre Stage Business at 8:17 a.m. Aug. 24 after a report involving falsification of a drug-test result and false pretenses/swindle/con.
• Fraud/scam: Clinton police responded to Oakwood Drive at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 after a report involving the use of forged or counterfeit checks.
Anderson County is looking ahead to how development and major road improvements could reshape the Edgemoor Road corridor.
The County Commission unanimously voted at its Aug. 17 meeting to move forward with an Appalachian Regional Commission planning grant for the corridor to help the county figure out what it wants to promote in that area, and draft a report.
The discussion comes in light of Type One Energy moving into the area, and state changes to the road.
County Mayor Terry Frank proposed applying for the grant dyring an Operations Committee meeting Aug. 10.
The ARC is a development partnership of the federal government and 13 states, including Tennessee, which provides grants to local governments.
Tennessee Department of Transportation stated State Route 116, New River Highway, is down to one lane but will be back to normal by Sept. 30.
Contractors have been excavating the slide area and filling with graded solid rock.
Other work includes construction on retaining walls before reconstructing the roadway, Mark Nagli, regional communications officer for East Tennessee with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, stated.
“This is an area that has been prone to slides,” Nagli told The Courier News.
Clinton High School’s volleyball team packed plenty of action — and victories — into a busy week on the court.
The Lady Dragons capped the week by reaching the semifinals of their own Splashdown tournament Saturday before falling to the Knoxville Trailblazers in three sets, 25-21, 19-25, 15-8.
Parker McGhee finished the semifinal with seven kills and one block for Clinton. Anslee Carmichael and Jailie Rodd had six kills apiece. Rodd added 13 assists and two blocks, while Carmichael came up with five digs. Alaina Stoudenmaier also dished out 13 assists.
The Lady Dragons swept Cumberland County 25-15, 25-18 as Rodd recorded four kills, seven assists and seven digs. Maggie Moke added four kills.
Clinton High School’s cross country teams continued to find their footing Saturday as the Dragons and Lady Dragons competed in the Cherokee Classic in Knoxville.
Clinton sent five runners to the meet, with three competing for the Lady Dragons and two representing the Dragons.
The Lady Dragons were without Lilian West.
“We didn’t have Lilian because she was at Brushy Mountain,” Clinton Coach Tim Kumes said. “We’re proud of her. She won the women’s race and she got herself a medal.”
Caroline Jones led the Lady Dragons at the Cherokee Classic, finishing 154th with a time of 27 minutes, 0.5 seconds.
Adah Freels placed 180th in 29:15.30, while Piper Bostrom finished 182nd with a time of 29:24.80.
Cooper Bostrom paced the Clinton boys, placing 59th with a time of 18:06.40. Freshman Joe Patton finished 335th in 36:38.00.
Kumes said he was pleased with his runners’ performances as Clinton continues to settle in to the early portion of its season.
“The kids all ran well,” he said. “Cooper had a great run, and I think we’re starting to find our stride right now.”
The Clinton Community Center’s Indoor Pool will be closed to the public on Wednesdays from 7- 8 p.m. for artistic swimming practice.
Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, involves moving through the water to music, similar to dance or figure skating.
To learn more about artistic swimming and the local East Tennessee Dolphins, email easttnartisticswim@gmail.com.
Lifeguard training
The Clinton Aquatics department will be hosting a lifeguard training class on Oct. 5-7 from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day at the Community Center pool.
A prerequisite swim test is required and must be passed by Sept. 30. This must be scheduled in advance.
The city of Clinton will waive registration fees for anyone who becomes employed with the city.
Clinton is also currently hiring licensed lifeguards.
For additional information, contact Jonathan Leninsky at 865-259-1164 or jleninsky@clintontn.net
Vice Chairwoman Shelly Vandagriff, Chairman Robert McKamey and Parliamentarian Ebony Capshaw sit together at the center of the dais after getting those positions during the Tuesday County Commission meeting. - Ben Pounds
Commissioner Robert McKamey will serve as chairman of the Anderson County Commission.
He beat previous Chairwoman Denise Palmer in an 8-7 vote.
Commissioner Shelly Vandagriff won vice chairwoman by acclimation.
McKamey then chose to appoint Commissioner Ebony Capshaw as parliamentarian.
“I appreciate him having faith in me to carry out the duties of that position,” Capshaw said.
Elizabeth “Liz” Henry was absent from the meeting and Mayor Terry Frank said she had decided not to be sworn in Tuesday morning along with others who won commission seats in the Aug. 6 election. Her District 8 seat will be back on the ballot in the Nov. 3 election.
“The ones that I have had talked with, I’ve said that I would be fair but firm,” said McKamey regarding his theory on how to be commissioner as well as now chairman after his appointment. “I just hope if we are unified we can handle the good, the bad and the ugly.”
“I’m just happy to support the commission,” said Vandagriff. “I look forward to the next year and the ability to serve.”
Voting for McKamey were Commissioners Steven Verran, Jeff Pack, Tim Isbel, Tracy Wandell, Ebony Capshaw, Sharon Capshaw, Robert McKamey and Shannon Grey.
Voting for Palmer were Commissioners Shain Vowell, Michael Foster, Jawrell Cook, Shelly Vandagriff, Palmer, Chad McNabb and Aaron Wells.
Palmer congratulated McKamey.
“It’s been a joy and a pleasure,” she said of her time as chair.
