Democrat Stuart Hohl running for County Commission against GOP pot-stirrer Gina Oster | Victor Ashe

Democratic candidate Stuart Hohl, 31, opposes GOP nominee Gina Oster, 53, in County Commission District 3. It covers northwest Knoxville and Knox County, including the Bearden Middle School area, Cedar Bluff, Ball Camp and Amherst.

The county election is Aug. 4. The seat is held by Randy Smith, who is term-limited.

This is Hohl’s first run for public office and Oster’s third try. Her victory over Nick Ciparro in the May GOP primary was her first electoral win. Oster lost a nonpartisan race for county school board against Doug Harris a few years back and then lost the GOP primary for state representative to Eddie Mannis in 2020.

She did not take her second loss well. She appealed that result to the GOP State Executive Committee asking that it be reversed. She was turned down. County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and U.S Rep. Tim Burchett had backed Mannis, who then won the general election comfortably.

Oster has been at odds with Republican Sheriff Tom Spangler over civil merit board issues in Knox County government.

Hohl says he wants to work with all elected officials regardless of party if elected.

“I am a problem-solver. I look forward to working with Sheriff Spangler for improved public safety if elected,” Hohl said.

Hohl says education is a major issue for him as his wife is a music teacher at Farragut Elementary School. He plans to hold regular monthly meetings across the district to stay in touch with all voters.

Hohl opposes the current effort to make it harder to appeal development issues to the Board of Zoning Appeals. He says he would oppose a county property tax increase during his term. He wants to improve roads and sidewalks, too.

Oster is a real estate agent and has three children. Hohl and his wife, Hilary, have a son, John, who just turned 1. Hohl is a post supervisor for Jupiter Entertainment. He graduated in 2012 from the University of Tennessee with a degree in journalism and electronic media. He is member of Church Street United Methodist Church.

Elaine Davis, candidate for the GOP nomination for state representative in District 18, says she is a long-time Republican and has voted in GOP primaries since 2008.

Records with the Knox County Election Commission show she voted in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 5 when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were candidates. On Aug. 7, 2008, she switched to vote in the Republican state primary and has voted in GOP primaries since then.

In 2006, Davis voted in two Democratic primaries. Davis also opposed Finbarr Saunders for County Commission in the Democratic primary but lost. She was the GOP nominee for state representative against Gloria Johnson in 2020 but lost. This year, she opposes City Councilwoman Janet Testerman, who has without exception voted only in Republican primaries.

This conversation was triggered by Democratic candidate Greg Kaplan saying in an interview with me, “I don't trust someone who switches parties.” Kaplan is unopposed in the Democratic primary. My wife, Joan Ashe, was on a host committee for Testerman. I was not.

The settlement for John Lott’s lawsuit over PTSD discrimination totaled “$785,000 to resolve all claims.” Respected mediator Jennifer Morton handled the case, and her fee will be paid entirely by Knox County.

Of the $785,000, $280,000 goes to attorney fees for Justin Gilbert and Ron Rayson. $455,000 goes to JCR Settlements for a nonqualified structured settlement at the sole discretion of Lott and $55,000 to Lott to be reflected on a 1099.

Birthdays  

June 19: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is 58. Rhonda Rice Clayton is 55. Donna Young is 77. Rachel Schneider is 35. U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper is 68. Former Democratic county mayor candidate Bobby Fischer is 63.

June 20: TVA’s Katie Kline is 65. Mark Medley, retired banker Bob Page and Charles Coleman are all 76.

June 21: Dr. Bill Muse is 79. Urban League's Phyllis Nichols is 71. Bill Thomas is 79. Attorney Joe Huie is 73. Prince William, future king of England, is 40.

June 22: Retired city recreation employee Carol Russell Kirksey is 78. Jennifer Arthur is 59. Former city economic development director Susan Brown is 58. Roger Gum is 84. Linda Gay Blanc is 69. Retired coach Doug Dickey is 90. Zaidee Robertson is 70. Stanton Oster, husband of Gina Oster, is 58. Tom Hall is 79. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is 73.

June 23: Retired attorney Mary Farmer is 74. Former zoo director Patrick Roddy is 60. Patsy Vittetoe is 83. LaKenya Middlebrook is 42. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is 74. Patience Melnik is 48. Artist Tommie Rush is 68. Attorney Savannah D. McCabe is 29.

June 24: Stanton Webster is 46. Jennifer Linginfelter is 42. Greg Midis is 61. Jane R. Armstrong is 80.

June 25: Retired Knoxville fire chief Gene Hamlin is 81.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Commission election: Stuart Hohl runs against Gina Oster