Elections held in 10 municipalities
By KATE COIL
TT&C Assistant Editor
Elections were held in 10 municipalities in May and June.
For the first time in 48 years, the city of Rogersville elected a new mayor after longtime mayor Jim Sells announced his decision to not seek re-election this year. Sells began his tenure as mayor in 1977. He was first elected an alderman in 1971.
BOLIVAR
A municipal election was held in Bolivar on May 20.
Incumbent Michael Brown defeated challenger Gwenda Woods in the single contested race. Brown earned 165 votes to Woods’ 50 for the District B, Position 4 seat.
Incumbent mayor Julian McTizic ran unopposed and was re-elected to his position with 267 complimentary votes.
Incumbent Melvin Lawrence Golden ran unopposed and was re-elected to the District A, Position 3 seat with 81 complimentary votes while incumbent Tommie Woods ran unopposed and was re-elected to the District A, Position 4 seat with 82 complimentary votes. Additionally, incumbent Suzanne Rhea ran unopposed and was re-elected to the District B, Position 2 seat with 167 complimentary votes.
CELINA
Voters went to the polls for an election in Celina on June 3.
Incumbent Luke Collins defeated challengers Willie Kerr and Justin Rich, the city’s current vice mayor, to retain his mayoral seat. Collins led the vote count with 291 followed by Kerr with 174 and Rich with 63.
Incumbent Lester Kenney Westmoreland will be joined on the Celina Board of Alderman by newcomers Michael Boles and Tracy Mills, defeating five other candidates for the three open seats. Boles will take the seat previously held by Vice Mayor Justin Rich while Mills will take the seat held by Alderman Winton Dillon, who did not seek re-election.
M. Boles led the vote count with 240 followed by Mills with 230, Westmoreland with 186, D. Dale with 145, T. Boles with 142, Spears with 135, K. Dale with 125, and Hayes with 118.
DUNLAP
A municipal election was held in Dunlap on May 3.
Incumbent Dwain Land defeated challengers Dave Anderson, Carson Camp, and Jimmy Axmacher to remain mayor of Dunlap. Land led the vote count with 467 followed by Anderson with 139, Camp with 33, and Axmacher with 9.
Incumbent city commissioners Jeff Harmon and Judy H. Layne ran unopposed and received 476 and 502 complimentary votes respectively.
The annexation referendum that was on the ballot only had only two votes in favor of the referendum.
GATLINBURG
Gatlinburg held a municipal election on May 20.
Former police chief Randall J. Brackins ran unopposed and was elected to the Commission Seat D with 273 votes. The seat was previously held by Vice Mayor Mark McCown.
Incumbent Kirby Smith defeated challenger Brian Papworth for the Commission Seat E. Smith earned 257 votes to Papworth’s 44.
LUTTRELL
Voters went to the polls in Luttrell on June 5.
Incumbent Jerry Lawson ran unopposed for mayor and was re-elected.
Incumbents Caleb D. Dyer and Brad Griffey ran unopposed for the two open city council seats and were also re-elected.
MCEWEN
McEwen held a municipal election on May 17 in which three candidates ran unopposed.
Incumbents John Etheridge, Basel Hooper, and Dwayne Ross all retained their seats.
MILLEDGEVILLE
A municipal election was held on May 24 in Milledgeville.
Five candidates ran for five open seats with Brenda Essary, Dannie Kennedy, Danny Williams, Ricky Hollin, and Doris A. Kennedy elected to the board. Essary, Dannie Kennedy, and Williams all earned 11 votes while Hollin and Doris Kennedy earned 10.
PIGEON FORGE
A municipal election was held in Pigeon Forge on May 13.
Three incumbent candidates ran unopposed and were re-elected to their seats. Kevin J. McClure retained his Commissioner Seat A, Jay Ogle retained Seat B, and Tony R. Watts kept Seat C. McClure earned 157 complimentary votes, Ogle 152 complimentary votes, and Watts 145 complimentary votes.
ROGERSVILLE
Rogersville held a municipal election on June 7.
Local businessman John C. Metz defeated challengers Alderman Brian Hartness and Tommy Wilmoth for the mayoral seat previously held by Jim Sells. Metz earned 583 votes to Hartness’ 283, and Wilmoth 13.
Incumbents Todd Biggs, Danny Brooks, and Brock Gladson will be joined by newcomers Brady Forgety, former Police Charlie Gibson, and Andrew Pope on the Board of Aldermen. Three seats were open after Alderwomen Sonda Price and Eloise Edwards did not seek re-election and Hartness ran for mayor. The six successful candidates beat out challengers Mike Campbell, Robbie Helton, and Patrick Johnson to earn their seats.
Forgety led the vote count with 668, followed by Biggs with 601, Gibson with 589, Brooks with 490, Gladson with 456, Poe with 444, Johnson with 359, Helton with 298, and Campbell with 227.
Voters in Rogersville also voted 695-119 to move the city’s elections to the standard November Date. A formal resolution will have to be passed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
WAVERLY
Voters in Waverly went to the polls on May 14.
Newcomer Paul Rice defeated fellow challenger Gretchen Turner to fill the seat vacated by the death of late Alderwoman Thomasine Hill. Rice earned 136 votes to 109.
Two candidates also ran unopposed for alderman seats. Incumbent Mike Goodman retained his seat with no challengers while newcomer Chris Greenwell was the only candidate running for the seat formerly held by Alderman Jerry Wright.