Election Commission votes 4-1 to certify candidates

Published 11:46 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2022

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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
The Carter County Election Commission met on Monday to certify candidates for the May 3 Primary and August 4 General Election.
After reviewing and discussing the POST-certified candidates and the road superintendent candidate certified by the state Highway Committee to make sure each qualification was met to make it to the ballot, a roll call vote was taken.
Those casting yes votes were Junior Stanley, Tom Whitehead, Ramon Sanchez-Vinas, and Diane Wilde. Teresa Murray Smith voted no.
“The data was sent to get ballot proofs made and sent to the State Election Coordinator’s Office for final approval to be made,” said Elections Administrator Tracy Tanner-Harris.
Smith said she voted no on the ballot because of concerns about one candidate.
“It was a blanket vote on all the candidates and there was one candidate for sheriff that I didn’t think that had the qualifications even though he had been certified,” Smith said. “According to statute (candidates must) have at least three years full-time experience within the previous 10 years and I don’t believe he met that.
“POST has certified him. I know they give credit for serving on that commission which of course is not active law enforcement. That was brought to my attention by a couple of citizens and I looked at the statute, TCA 8-8-102 Subsection 9-A.”
Smith added that she has heard that there may be a challenge made in regard to the candidate’s certification by POST.
She also added that there were a couple of other issues including another candidate who wanted to put his title on the ballot and one other candidate who didn’t have Jr. added to the end of his name.
Tanner-Harris reminded residents that the deadline to register to vote for those who aren’t registered is April 4. Those registered by this date will be able to vote in the county primary on May 3.
The list of candidates certified by the Election Commission include the following which will be on the May 3 Primary ballot:
Carter County Mayor
Patty Woodby (R) – incumbent
Michael Wayne Ensor (R)
Danny Ward (R)
Trustee
Aaron Greer (R)
Jeffrey Guinn (R)
Chad Lewis (R)
Travis Hill (R)
Andrew Wetzel (R)
Larry Adams (R)
**Randal Lewis – incumbent is retiring
Sheriff
Dexter Lunceford (R) – incumbent
Kimmie Birchfield (R)
William “Mike” Fraley (R)
Capt. Thomas Smith (R)
County Clerk
Mary Gouge (R) – incumbent
Randall Jenkins (R)
Circuit Court Clerk
Johnny Blankenship (R) – incumbent
Register of Deeds
Jarrod Ellis (R) – incumbent
Superintendent of Roads
Roger Colbaugh (R) – incumbent
School Board
Christopher Hitechew (R) – incumbent Dist. 2
Garry Oaks (R) – District 2
Jeremiah Tolley (R) – District 3
Tony Garland (R) – incumbent District 5
Creola Miller (R) – incumbent District 7
Terry Hubbard (R) – District 7
Commissioners
District 1
Robert Acuff (R) – incumbent
Mark Blevins (R) – incumbent
Willie Campbell (R) – incumbent
Kenneth Fitzgerald (R)
Nick Holder (R)
District 2
Nancy Brown (R) – incumbent
Julie Guinn (R) – incumbent
District 3
Bradley Johnson (R) – incumbent
Steve Burrough (R)
Angela Odom (R)
District 4
Jerry Proffitt (R) – incumbent
Danny Deal (R)
Gary Kemp (R)
Michael Roberts (R)
District 5
Ginger Holdren (R) – incumbent
Lisa Childress (R)
District 6
Gary Bailey (R) – incumbent
Donnie Cable (R)
Todd Smith (R)
Pattie Duffield (R)
District 7
Aaron Frazier (R) – incumbent
Daniel McInturff (R) – incumbent
Jason Rasnick (R)
District 8
Thomas Proffitt (R) – incumbent
Cody McQueen (R)
Public Defender – 1st Judicial District
Jeff Kelly (R) – incumbent
General Sessions Judge
Charles Bowers (R) – incumbent
Criminal Court Judge – 1st Judicial District
Stacy Street (R) – incumbent
Lisa Rice (R) – incumbent
Constables
District 1
Benny Montgomery (R)
Chad Odum (R)
Gary Perry (R)
District 2
Chris Grindstaff (R)
District 3
Jerry Miller
Scott Whaley
District 4
Nicole Pate (R)
Harvey Shaffer (R)
Jim Winchester (R)
Jason Jones (R)
District 5
Mark Carrier (R)
District 6
James Bowers (R)
Brian Keener (R)
Bobby Trivette (R)
John Henson (R)
District 7
Dustin Baker (R)
Kenneth Potter (R)
District 8
Robert “Bob” Carroll (R)
Republican State Executive Committeewoman – 3RC
Charlene Thomas
Circuit Court Judge Part 2 – District 1
Lois Bunton-Shults-Davis (R)
Suzanne Cook (R)
District Attorney General
Steve Finney (R)
Chancellor – 1st Judicial District
John C. Rambo
Circuit Court Judge Part 1 – District 1
J. Eddie Lauderback
The following will be included on the ballot for the Aug. 4 General Election:
Mayor
Devon Buck (I)
Leon Humphrey, Jr. (I)
Sheriff
Rocky Croy (I)*
Commissioners
District 1
David Nichols (I)
District 3
Charles Von Cannon (I) – incumbent
David Cannon (I)
District 6
John Lewis (I)
District 8
Kelly Collins (I) – incumbent
Constable
District 1
Ronald Reed (I)*

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