Early voting to begin Wednesday
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Editor’s Note: This article corrects a previous version in which dates and addresses listed were incorrect.
Election season is about to officially begin.
Wednesday, April 15 is the first day of early voting for the Hamblen County Primary Elections for county offices and other campaigns. This is a correction from a previous story from the Weekend Tribune.
While early voting begins on April 15, the last day to request an absentee ballot is Saturday, April 25 with early voting ending on April 30. Election Day is Tuesday, May 5.
Early voting hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hamblen County Election Commission, located at 511 West Second North Street in Morristown. Saturday early voting hours are from 8 a.m. to noon at the Election Commission.
Alternative voting locations are for East End residents at the Holston Electric Cooperative Office, located at 6613 East Andrew Johnson Highway in Whitesburg. West End residents wanting to early vote may do so at City of Morristown Public Works Department, located at 4360 Durham Landing in Morristown.
Republican Primary
Races on the Republican Primary include the race for County Mayor between incumbent Chris Cutshaw and opponent Dan Parks.
County Commission races include unopposed races involving Dr. Tom Hyde, (District 1), Debbie A’Hearn (District 2), Wayne NeSmith (District 4), Mike Reed (District 5) and Stan Harville (District 10).
District 6 will involve incumbent Mike Richardson and former commissioner Joe Spoone. District 7 will involve incumbent Kyle Walker, along with candidates Billy Samsel and Frank Lane.
District 8 County Commission race features newcomers Les Center and Mark Johns. District 9 candidates are incumbent Jamie Carden and Kimberly T. Coffey. District 11 race features Edward “Jody” Rhines and retired Morristown Police Officer Matt Stuart. County Commission Chairman Bobby Haun faces competition for his District 12 seat from Leo Shalhoup.
In District 13, incumbent Tim Horner is facing Joe R. Downs, Sr. and Gwendolyn J. Holden. In District 14, incumbent Edna Greene will take on Ronald Scott Depew.
County Offices
The only county office with opposition is the Register of Deeds, where long-time Register Jim Clawson is retiring. Battling to replace Clawson are Billy Daniel, Ann Hale and Todd Marshall.
Unopposed in their respective campaigns include County Trustee Scotty Long, Sheriff Chad Mullins, Circuit Court Clerk Teresa West, County Clerk Peggy Henderson.
Board of Education
Former Hamblen County Mayor David W. Purkey is unopposed for School Board Districts 5 and 6. A candidate didn’t qualify for the District 1-2 board seat. Board Vice-Chairman Jerrod C. Weems is unopposed for his District 9-10 seat. Sandy Elkins Dyke is unopposed for Districts 11-12.
Constable
There is only one opposed race for constable, and that is in Districts 5-6 with Ernie Noe and Willie Stanley competing. Other races have unopposed candidates including R. Paul McKinney for Districts 1-2, Tommy McKinney for Districts 3-4, Dwayne Sliger in Districts 7-8, Jeffrey Collins in Districts 9-10, Doyle Whitmill in Districts 11-12 and Ricky Sutton in Districts 13-14.
Democratic Primary
Joyce Cotner is running for the Democratic nomination for District 3 County Commission. Allen D. Brooks is running for nomination for District 10 Commissioner. Bryant Frankford is running for the District 12 Commissioner position.

