Wed
Jun 28 2006
08:22 am
August elections
By: R. Neal

UPDATE: Knox County Administrator of Elections Greg Mackay forwards this sample ballot (PDF format) for the August 3 election.

The deadline to register for the August county general and state primary election is next Monday, July 3rd. Forms must be postmarked by July 4th. Early voting begins July 14th.

If you're reading this, you are probably already registered and plan to vote. But you may have friends or relatives who aren't, so let them know. (And if they're voting Republican, be sure to tell them to vote for Van Hilleary in the Republican U.S. Senate Primary).

Here is the official State of Tennessee voter registration form (PDF format). It must be printed on white paper and mailed or hand delivered to your county election commission's office (addresses listed at the end of the form). If registering by mail, forms must be postmarked no later than July 4th. July 3rd is the last day to register in person.

Knox County info:

Knox Co. Election Commission Website
Election schedule
Early voting locations (PDF)
County general election candidates
County general write-in candidates
State and federal candidates

Blount County info:

Blount Co. Election Commission

(Blount Co. has not yet posted a list of candidates or a sample ballot for the Aug. 3 election. Deadlines and schedules are the same as Knox Co. In the past, early voting was at the Blount Co. Court House.)

E-Slate voting machine info:

Both Knox and Blount Co. are using new E-Slate electronic voting machines. Knox County's were just recently delivered and will be used for the first time in the Aug. 3rd election. Blount County used them in the May 2nd primary. They are simple to use.

Here is an interactive demo from the Knox Co. Election Commission's website (use your mouse to operate it just like the real thing). Here's a page explaining the procedure from the Blount Co. Election Commission's website.

State/federal primary candidates:

Governor
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
Tennessee Senate
Tennessee House

Some Knox County recommendations:

Thomas "Tank" Strickland, County Commission 1-B
Mark Harmon, County Commission 2-A
Amy Broyles, County Commission 2-B (Write-in)
Colvin Idol, County Commission 3-B
Joan Wagner, County Commission 4-A
Tom Salter, County Commission 5-C
Steve McGill, County Commission 9-A
Martin Pleasant, County Commission 9-B
Randy Tyree, Sheriff
Scott Emge, Register of Deeds
Jim Andrews, Chancery Court Division 3

Some Blount County recommendations:

Joe Gallagher, County Mayor
Ernie Tallent, County Commission 1-A
Lowell Ridings, County Commission 2-B
Wendy Pitt Reeves, County Commission 4-C
Bob Proffitt, County Commission 6-B
Linda Jo Dees, County Commission 7-A

Some State/federal primary recommendations:

Phil Bredesen, Governor
Harold Ford, Jr., U.S. Senate
John J. Duncan, Jr., U.S. House Dist. 2 (Republican primary)
Schree Pettigrew, State Rep. Dist. 18

(Ed. note: I don't follow the courts and thankfully haven't had to appear before any of the judicial candidates, so I don't know anything about them. If some of you legal-eagle types would like to write up a post or e-mail off the record with info and/or recommendations, I'm sure other KnoxViews readers would appreciate it and so would I.)

Topics:
Andy Axel's picture

If you're reading this, you

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 9:56am.

If you're reading this, you are probably already registered and plan to vote. But you may have friends or relatives who aren't, so let them know. (And if they're voting Republican, be sure to tell them to vote for Van Hilleary in the Republican U.S. Senate Primary).

You cad.

For Davidson County primary... there's nothing posted yet.

(link...)

But in statewide offices, there's only the Senate race -- since Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) know what's best for Tennessee voters. Marsha Blackburn (R-Alph) and Jim Cooper (D-INO) have little significant opposition, although if you live in the 5th... vote for Ginny Welsch. (link...)

In all candor, I may just switch parties in the primary to jump on the Van Wagon. In the general, I may cast a vote for John Jay Hooker.

____________________________

"The iPod was not developed by Baptists in Waco." -- G.K.

R. Neal's picture

I may cast a vote for John

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 9:59am.

I may cast a vote for John Jay Hooker

Heh. Wonder what happens if he wins both Governor and Senator?

Andy Axel's picture

Heh indeed.

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 10:01am.

So I can cast two votes for Hooker, then?

Ehhhhhhh-xcellent.

(You gotta love Tennessee election law. You'd think that there'd be some exclusivity language put in there.)

____________________________

"The iPod was not developed by Baptists in Waco." -- G.K.

Andy Axel's picture

Ye Gods!

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 10:05am.

There are other candidates, too.

(link...)

Why haven't I heard about Walt Ward before now???

He's DREAMY!

(Good list maintained here, since the state hasn't been keeping up: (link...))

____________________________

"The iPod was not developed by Baptists in Waco." -- G.K.

R. Neal's picture

Hahahaha. Qualifications:

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 10:13am.

Hahahaha. Qualifications: 4th Degree Black Belt. He has "the heart of a fighter!"

OK, then.

(Guess I should be careful. He's a former Marine and a Vietnam vet and I'm sure he can kick my ass.)

Rachel's picture

Hey Randy, good

Submitted by Rachel on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 11:10am.

Hey Randy, good recommendation on Van Hilleary.  The spouse & I are thinking about voting in the R primary, just so we can vote for Van.  We just love that guy! Wink

SteveMule's picture

Colvin Idol

Submitted by SteveMule on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 11:36am.

Mr. Neal,

You forgot to include in your list Colvin Idol!  Colvin is running for Knox County Commission in the 3rd District.

Take Care, Be Good and don't play in the street!

SteveMule

R. Neal's picture

Thanks. Updated.

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 11:40am.

Thanks. Updated.

JustJohnny's picture

Thanks!

Submitted by JustJohnny on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 12:53pm.

Thanks for the Schree recommendation! :-)

R. Neal's picture

Thanks for the Schree

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 1:28pm.

Thanks for the Schree recommendation!

You're welcome. So, what do you think of her chances in the primary? :)

smalc's picture

Loudon County will have the

Submitted by smalc on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 2:39pm.

Loudon County will have the E-Slate machines up and running for the August election as well. It will be nice to see only the races that apply to your own district, rather than the entire ballot.

spintrep's picture

write-in??

Submitted by spintrep on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 3:55pm.

why would a candidate who is running as an independent fail to get on the ballot  and be running as a write-in?

Amy Broyles, County Commission 2-B (Write-in)

 

R. Neal's picture

Somebody can correct me if

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 4:00pm.

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's because she didn't qualify before the deadline (back in Jan. or Feb.?), and didn't get enough write-in votes in the primary to be on the ballot, so she filed again for the August election as a write-in.

Rachel's picture

Amy and Johnathan Wimmer

Submitted by Rachel on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 4:14pm.

Amy and Johnathan Wimmer between them got more write-in votes than Billy Tindell in the Democratic primary, but Tindell still won.

So he's the official Democratic nominee.  I think Amy decided to run as a write-in after it became Weaver's ruling made it clear that Tindell's name was going to stay on the ballot, term limits be damned.

spintrep's picture

match point - the machine

Submitted by spintrep on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 5:25pm.

I understand she didn't win as the Democratic nominee... her website now mentions "independent" for this race.

R. Neal's speculation about the deadline rule would makes sense if correct, but why does it need to be set so far ahead of the actual election? This rule would be set by the election commission? It's got to be a disadvantage to someone who decides to go independent after the party primaries.

I'll be surprised that this (or any) candidate can mount a realistic challange as a write-in where opponents have their names on the standard machine ballot.

R. Neal's picture

R. Neal's speculation about

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/06/28 - 6:33pm.

R. Neal's speculation about the deadline rule would makes sense if correct, but why does it need to be set so far ahead of the actual election? This rule would be set by the election commission?

Election schedules, filing deadlines, etc. are set by state law.

Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 5, Part 2:

2-5-101. Time for filing - Required signatures - Failure to file - Filing office hours - Prohibited acts - Death or late withdrawal of candidates.

(a) Candidates shall qualify by filing all nominating petitions, including any duplicate nominating petitions, by the deadlines set out in the schedule in this section. The qualifying deadline for any office not included in this section shall be twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the third Thursday in the third calendar month before the election.

(1) Independent and primary candidates for any office to be filled at the regular November election for which a primary is required to be held at the regular August election shall qualify by filing such candidates' nominating petitions no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the first Thursday in April.

(2) Independent and primary candidates for any office to be filled in a regular August general election for which a May primary has been called under § 2-13-203 shall qualify by filing their petitions for the August election no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the third Thursday in February. In the event no May primary authorized under § 2-13-203 is called for any office to be filled in the regular August general election, then the candidates shall qualify by filing their petitions no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the first Thursday in April. In presidential election years, if a political party calls for the county primary in February, the qualifying deadline for candidates in the primary and independent candidates for those offices shall be twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the second Thursday in December. Independent candidates for offices which will appear on the county primary ballot shall qualify by filing their petitions at the same time primary candidates qualify.

(3) Candidates in municipal elections held in conjunction with the regular August election shall file their nominating petitions no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the first Thursday in April. Candidates in all other municipal elections shall file their nominating petitions no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the third Thursday in the third calendar month before the election.

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