Randy FairbanksDISTRICT 1Includes northern Hamilton County, Soddy-Daisy, Sale CreekRegistered voters: 19.881Voting precincts: Includes Bakewell 1-2, Dallas 1-2, Falling Water, Flat Top Mountain, Mowbray, Northwoods 1-2, Sale Creek and Soddy-Daisy 1-4 precincts
District 1: Fairbanks still the better choice
Randy Fairbanks only had a few days to savor what many believed was an upset victory over incumbent Fred Skillern in the May Republican primary for the District 1 seat on the Hamilton County Commission. He had no Democrat opponent and so was virtually assured his seat.
But Hamilton County Board of Education member Rhonda Thurman decided to mount a write-in campaign to take up the mantle for Skillern, with whom she had worked closely on projects for the district.
We still believe Fairbanks is the right choice for the seat in the Aug. 7 county general election and encourage Thurman to continue her role as contrarian on the school board, where she is the District 1 representative.
Fairbanks probably will not vote much differently from how Skillern did, but he vows to be accessible, to be visible in the community — two things voters said Skillern was not — and to be a “working partner” with his constituents.