AC General Session judges unseated; more results

The Anderson County Election Commission website stated all precincts had reported as of 9:38 p.m. Tuesday, election day for the county Republican and Democratic primaries.

There were some upsets as two incumbent judges — General Sessions, Division I, Judge Don Layton and Division II Judge Roger Miller — are believed to have lost their bids for re-election in the Republican Primary, although the loss in Miller's case is by only 14 votes. There were no candidates in the Democratic Primary for any seat.

Judges

For the General Sessions Judge Division I, Republican primary, Victoria Bowling won with 3,496 votes (57.02%). Don A. Layton, the incumbent, received 2,635 votes (42.98%).

Another challenger beat an incumbent in the race for General Sessions Court Judge Division II. Roger Miller received 2,900 votes (49.88%). Matt Tuck received 2,914 votes (50.12%).

Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens said there could still be write-in candidates for these two races submitted during the August General Election. The winners after that election will be sworn in as judges.

Circuit Court Clerk

Rex Lynch, the incumbent, won the Republican primary for Circuit Court Clerk with 3,302 (53.95%). Lewis Ridenour came in second with 2,818 (46.05%).

Road Superintendent

In the Republican primary for Road Superintendent, Brian Hutson received 1,991 votes (32.94%). Incumbent Gary Long won the primary with 4,054 (67.06%).

County Commission

For District One, Tyler Mayes and Rodney M. Jennings were the two top vote-getters for the two seats. Mayes received the most votes at 377 (31.92%). Jennings received 332 votes (28.11%) of the vote. Also in the Republican Primary, Harold Edwards received 242 votes (20.49%) and Ray Hagan received 230 votes (19.48%). Running in August as an independent candidate will be Tracy L. Wandell, an incumbent. Longtime Commissioner Chuck Fritts is not seeking re-election.

For District Two, Michael Y. Foster received 574 votes or (32.41%). Denise Palmer also won with 534 (30.15%). Other Republicans, Stephen Haynes Day, received 153 votes or 8.64% and Kim Campbell Meredith got 510 votes (28.80%). Independent candidate V.L. Stonecipher is seeking one of the seats as well. Incumbents Robert "Bob" Jameson and Rick Meredith are not seeking re-election.

For District Three, Shelly Vandagriff received the most votes at 908 (43.84%), followed by Lindsay Smith with 726 votes or 35.06%. Charles Casey Irwin received 437 votes (21.10%). Independent candidate Joshua Anderson is seeking re-election. He is the current commission chairman. Commissioner Denver Waddell is not seeking re-election.

For District Four there were only two Republican candidates on the ballot for the two seats up for vote. Tim Isbel received 531 votes (61.18%). Amy Jones received 337 votes (38.82%). Independent candidate J. Shain Vowell, an incumbent, is seeking re-election in August.

For District Five there were only two Republican candidates in the GOP primary for the two seats. Robert McKamey received 421 votes (47.62%). Jerry White received 463 votes (52.38%). There are no challengers. Both men are longtime commissioners.

For District Six, there were two Republican candidates for the two seats. Anthony Allen received 192 (48%). Steve Mead, an incumbent, received 208 (52%). Incumbent Catherine Denenberg, an independent, is seeking re-election in that district.

For District Seven, only two Republicans ran for the two seats. Sabra Beauchamp received 255 votes (50.10%). Steven Poppick received 254 votes (49.90%). The Democratic Party issued a letter to the Election Commission on Feb. 14 stating the party had nominated Stephen Verran as a candidate for one of the two District Seven seats and he will be on the ballot in August. Longtime Commissioners Jerry Creasey and Theresa Scott are not seeking re-election.

For District Eight, two Republican candidates ran for the two seats. Myra Mansfield received 318 votes (47.32%). Jake Martin received 354 (52.68%). Independent candidates Bob Smallridge and Phil Yager, both independents, are seeking re-election. Both men are current commissioners.

Anderson County School Board

Incumbent candidates Jo Williams won an uncontested Republican primary as did Teresa Portwood, District 2. Scott Gillenwaters, District 6, and Don Bell, District 7, are seeking re-election, but are listed as independents.

Uncontested races

For the Anderson County mayoral race, incumbent Theresa E. "Terry" Frank received the Republican nomination. Frank faced no opposition.

For Frank and the other candidates who face no opposition in their parties or the opposing party, the only way they could face opposition would be via write-in ballots, according to Anderson County Election Commission Administrator Mark Stephens.

Also winning while facing no opposition was Ryan Spitzer, who is seeking to retain the judgeship for the 7th Judicial District Circuit and Criminal Court. Spitzer, a Republican, was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to fill the unexpired term of Judge Don Elledge, who retired last year.

Other Republicans who won the primary without facing opposition in their party: Russell Barker, sheriff; Brian J. Hunt, Juvenile Court judge, incumbent; Melainie Nichole "Nikki" Cantrell, 7th Judicial District chancellor, incumbent; Ann. D. Coria, 7th Judicial District public defender, incumbent; Regina V. Copeland, county trustee, incumbent; Jeffrey C. "Jeff" Cole, county clerk, incumbent; and Timothy W. "Tim" Shelton, register of deeds, incumbent. Their exact vote counts can be found on the Anderson County Election Commission website, acelect.com.

The Election Commission will vote on certifying the election results at an upcoming meeting.

Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal and email him at bpounds@oakridger.com. News editor Donna Smith contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: AC General Session judges unseated; results