Long wins District 6 school board seat
By Matthew Stewartof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: August 08. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: August 08. 2008 12:58AM
Four years ago, Brad K. Long lost by 15 votes to the incumbent William "Booty" Miller in the District 6 school board race. The results were eerily similar Thursday night as Long defeated Patricia Ann Bell by a mere 14 votes.
He received 966 votes to Bell's 952 votes.
The pair were competing for Miller's District 6 seat, who decided not to run for re-election this year.
"This feels great -- I'm glad it's over," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting my feet wet and learning the (operating procedures)."
"This was a tough budget this year and it's already been set. I have lots of good ideas that I want to run by the other board members and businesses. I think our school system should be run more like a business," said Long.
He wants students to learn the "fundamentals of life," such as personal finance and interpersonal communication skills. "I just want to create the best opportunities for students of Blount County. Sometimes it requires thinking outside-the-box." The school board, however, shouldn't micromanage the schools, said Long.
"I want our kids to have everything they need. We need to find money (sources besides tax increases). I would like to see private industry foot the bill. I would like to (see new) jobs coming into (Blount County). If we've got good industry and a strong economy, the tax base will come to us," he said.
"I would like to thank all of the voters of the 6th District and everybody who supported me (including) my family and friends," said Long.
District 6 voting precincts are Carpenters, Fairview city and county, Lanier and William Blount High School's ninth-grade academy.
After hearing news of his victory, board member John P. Davis Jr. congratulated Long on his victory. "Welcome to one of the most thankless, but most important jobs in the county," he said. "I look forward to serving with him," added Davis.
Blount County's other two school board races were uncontested. Davis received 1,569 votes in District 4 and Chris Cantrell received 1,653 votes in District 2.
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