Smooth sailing so far: No hitches in Blount's early voting

By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff

Early voting was running smoothly in Blount County on Friday.

Administrator of Elections Libby Breeding said she hadn't expected any surprises.

"It's not a huge election," she said. "We didn't anticipate it would be."

Early voting began Friday for the Aug. 7 election. Voters can cast early ballots until Aug. 2.

Early voting stations are located at the election commission office at the courthouse and at Everett Recreational Center at 318 S. Everett High Road, Maryville, In addition, there will be a satellite location in Room 107 at Pellissippi State Technical Community College at 1010 Middlesettlements Road, Alcoa.

Breeding encourages voters to use the PSTCC site.

"The parking is wonderful and there would be no wait lines whatsoever," she said.

Voters can use any of the locations.

"They can go to any of the early voting sites," Breeding said. "That's what is so convenient about it."

Hours at the courthouse will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The hours at Everett will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; there will be no Saturday hours at Everett or Pellissippi. Hours at Pellissippi will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Contested races

The only contested local race in the county general election is the for 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, will face each other.

The slate for the state primary is attracting attention. In the 8th District State Senate race, incumbent Sen. Raymond Finney is facing 20th District state Rep. Doug Overbey for the Republican nomination. Joining them in the race for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat is Jim Bishop of Sevier County. Ira T. Lapides, who is a Gatlinburg business owner, is running as an independent.

Candidates for the 20th District House slot include County Commission Chairman Robert Ramsey, Commissioner Steve Hargis, Jimmy Melton of Maryville and Tona Monroe-Ball of Greenback, all competing for the Republican nomination.

The only other contested race in the general election is the 6th District school board seat being vacated by William "Bootie" Miller. Patricia Ann Bell and Brad K. Long are seeking the office. Precincts in the 6th District include Carpenters, Fairview -- City and County, Lanier and William Blount Middle. In the state primaries, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has no opposition in the Republican primary, while six Democrats are vying for the opportunity to oppose him in the general election, including Mark E. Clayton, Gary G. Davis, Kenneth Eaton, Leonard D. Ladner, Mike Padgett and Robert D. Tuke.

In the 2nd District House of Representatives race, incumbent John J. Duncan Jr. is unopposed in the Republican primary. On the Democrat side, David Ryan Hancoke and Bob Scott are competing for the right to oppose Duncan in November.

Incumbent 8th District state Rep. Joe McCord, a Republican, has no opposition. Two other school board races, city commission races in Townsend and Friendsville, and County Property Assessor Mike Morton are also unopposed.

In addition, voters are asked to vote yes or no on whether to retain two state Supreme Court judges, three Court of Appeals judges and two Court of Criminal Appeals judges.