Voter registration ends; early voting begins Oct. 15
By Joel Davisof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: October 07. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: October 07. 2008 12:11AM
Voter registration for the Nov. 4 presidential election ended Monday.
Administrator of Elections Libby Breeding described the day as "very busy." All told, there are more than 75,000 registered Blount County voters eligible to cast ballots in the election.
In addition to deciding between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain for U.S. President, voters have a range of other choices. In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Sen. Lamar Alexander, a republican, faces Robert D. Tuke, a democrat, and six independent candidates. In the 2nd District House of Representatives race, incumbent John J. Duncan Jr. faces Democrat Bob Scott.
County Commissioner Robert Ramsey is unopposed for the 20th District House slot, unless he is challenged by a write-in candidate. State Rep. Doug Overbey. a republican, faces independent Ira Lapides of Gatlinburg in the 8th State Senatorial District race.
Incumbent 8th District state Rep. Joe McCord, a Republican, has no opposition.
In the city of Alcoa municipal election, Clauton G. Bledsoe, Ken White and George Williams are running for two Board of Commissioners slots. In the Alcoa Board of Education race, current members Charles Cameron and Steve Marsh and candidate Johnelle Jackson are running for three slots.
In the Louisville election, Steve Dixon, Joe Gallagher and Michael Mund are competing for two Board of Aldermen slots.
In the Maryville city election, Mayor Joe Swann and Council Member Tom Taylor are on the ballot for re-election. Doug Jenkins, Bethan Hodson Pope and Charles West are competing for two slots on the Maryville Board of Education.
Also on the ballot is a referendum to increase the local option sales tax by one-half cent with most of the revenue going toward education. A citizens group, Blount Countians for Educational Excellence, has pushed for the referendum.
Based on 2007 sales tax receipts, the group estimates the added tax would raise $7,772,028 annually with 2 percent increases each year. Blount County Schools' share would be $2.9 million.
Under state law, cities and counties in Tennessee can levy up to a 2.75 percent local option sales tax. The local option in Blount stands at 2.25 percent.
Lastly, there is also a referendum on the ballot to allow the legal sale of wine in Townsend.
The next milestone for voters is the start of early voting on Oct. 15. It runs through Oct. 30. Breeding encourages voters to participate.
"I'd love for them to early vote because the lines are going to be so much shorter than on election day," she said.