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Daily Dose for May 03, 2006
Daily Dose
Primaries Set Candidates -- Turnout was low across the state for yesterday's primary elections for County offices. Here are some highlights from some of the more interesting races across the state.
In Hamilton County, John Allen Brooks defeated incumbent Lou Miller for a County Commission seat and Sheriff John Cupp held off a challenge by Republican Andy Derryberry. In the Democratic primary for Sheriff Billy Long defeated Hank DeArman. City Judge Sherry Paty held off a challenge from Gerald Webb - 6,924 to 5,853. Tom Crutchfield won a close contest over Steven Grant - the biggest fundraiser in the election - in the race to replace Circuit Court Judge Sam Payne. The vote was 4,733 to 4,374.
In Sullivan County, State Rep. Steve Godsey and Sullivan County Commissioner Larry Hall will be the Republican and Democratic nominees, respectively, for county mayor in August. In the Democratic Party primary, Hall outdistanced Joe Miller by more than 800 votes - 1,908 to 1,107. In the Republican Party primary, Godsey led a field of five candidates with 3,842 votes.
In Washington County, Incumbent George Jaynes captured the Republican nomination for Washington County mayor Tuesday - a victory that assures him of re-election. Jaynes, Washington Co. Mayor for 20 years, beat challenger Roy McLain, a county commissioner and Daniel Boone High School teacher, by a final tally of 4,371 votes to 2,668, a 62 percent to 38 percent margin of victory.
In the race for 4th Judicial District Attorney, covering Sevier, Cocke, Jefferson and Grainger counties, Jimmy Dunn, defeated Sevierville lawyer Joe Baker by 1,731 votes in the Republican primary. Baker defeated Dunn in Sevier, Grainger and Jefferson counties, but Dunn pulled in so many votes in Cocke County - 7,120 to 2,168 - that it tipped the race in his favor.
In Knox County, after a delay in vote tallying because of an election computer malfunction and paper ballots yet to be counted, it seems clear that incumbent County Mayor Mike Ragsdale outmatched Republican primary opponent Steve Hall. Incumbent judge Bill Swann survived a particularly brutal primary fight against challenger David Lee, and Andrew Jackson VI closely bested a field of three to win General Session Court Judge in Division 4. Several of the term-limited incumbents were beat outright on the primary ballot, although county party conventions will have to be held following the vote because several term limited commissioners won the ballot. Among the more interesting Commission races, Greg "Lumpy" Lambert holds the lead in District 6B, R. Larry Smith will replace Mary Lou Horner in 7A, and Tony Norman beat incumbent Wanda Moody in 3A.
In Blount County, six incumbent County Commissioners were bested in their primaries. Incumbent commissioners who were voted out of office were Dan Neubert Jr., Dr. Otto Slater, Dennis Cardin, Shirley Townsend, Bob Arwood and Donna Dowdy. Commissioner Keith Brock beat opponent Kevin Rowland 722-717.
In Davidson County, low turnout benefited the incumbent judges. John Arriola won the Democratic primary for Davidson County clerk and doesn't face a challenger in August. Democrats tapped Angie Blackshear Dalton for the General Sessions Division III judgeship. If she wins in August, she will become the first black woman elected as a judge in Davidson County.
In Shelby County, J.W. Gibson beat incumbent Walter Bailey, and Rep. Henri E. Brooks won the nod for Commission District 2 Position 2. Sidney Chism beat incumbent Cleo C. Kirk. In the County Clerk's race, Otis Jackson: defeated Charlotte Draper 10,829 to 10,695.
Bredesen Says He's Found Funding for CoverTN -- After renewed criticism of Republicans over permanent funding for CoverTN, the Governor's state-subsizied insurance program, Governor Bredesen says he has found permanent funding for the program. "We are able to produce $34 million of recurring savings from TennCare that can be transferred," State Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz reports.
First Waltzer Gets Three Years -- Former Hamilton Co. Commissioner William Cotton was sentenced to three years for his role in Operation Tennessee Waltz. Cotton was convicted of taking bribes in exchange for passing legislation through the Hamilton Co. Commission to benefit a fake company set up by the FBI. A federal judge on Tuesday said deterrence was a major factor in sentencing.
