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The only contested local race in the Aug. 7, 2008, county general election will be for the Division II seat vacated by Circuit Court Judge D. Kelly Thomas Jr. when he was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in November 2006.
Current-Circuit Court Judge Mike Meares, a Democrat appointed to serve in the interim by Gov. Phil Bredesen in June 2007, and General Sessions Court Judge David Duggan, a Republican, have both qualified to run.
Voters will choose between Duggan and Meares during the state primary and county general election on Aug. 7, 2008. In February, county voters can vote in the primary election for property assessor and the Division II Circuit Court judge. Unless there is a write-in candidate, Property Assessor Mike Morton will run for re-election unopposed. Also on the ballot will be Carl Koella III, who is seeking re-election to his Rockford City Commission slot.
Duggan has served as judge for the Blount County General Sessions Court, Section IV, since January, 2005, and he handles criminal, civil, domestic and probate cases. He practiced as a Blount County attorney for nearly 18 years before being elected.
Meares, who served as a practicing attorney and partner in the law firm of Dungan & Meares before being appointed to the judgeship, began his legal career in 1983 in Miami and moved in 1986 to the law firm of Meares, Morton, Meares and Ansley in Maryville. He entered public service in 1989 as the first public defender for the 5th Judicial District.
The presidential and county primary elections will be held Feb. 5, 2008. The last day to register to vote in the primaries is Jan. 4, 2008. Early voting for primary will be held Jan. 16-31, 2008. Early voting for the presidential and county general election on Nov. 7 will be Oct. 16-30.
During the state general election, Blount County voters will choose a state senator and fill the county’s two slots in the state House of Representatives.
So far, only Sen. Raymond Finney, R-Maryville, has announced his intention to run for re-election. Reps. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, and Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, have not made announcements, yet. People interested in running for the seats won’t event be able to pick up a qualifying petition until January 2008. The deadline to file to run for the state offices is April 3.
The U.S. presidential election and state general election will be Nov. 4.