KEY DATES AND POLL HOURSPolls at Marion Count’s 20 precincts open Thursday at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. CDT. Thursday: County general, state primary election Oct. 4: Last day for new voter registrations Oct. 13: Early voting begins Oct. 28: Early voting ends Nov. 2: State and federal general electionSource: Tennessee elections officials
Marion County voters weigh in Thursday on races for county mayor, sheriff, trustee, four County Commission seats, two school board seats and two posts for constable.
A battle for county mayor and major state races are producing plenty of interest, Elections Administrator Gary Reames said.
Reames said early voting was up about 13 percent from the May primaries, and he expects turnout Thursday to be “large.”
Most voter interest appears to be aimed at the county mayor race, Reames said. He “hadn’t heard anything” in voter conversations about the sheriff’s race in which Democratic challenger and Whitwell Police Chief Ronnie Davis Jr. will take on longtime Republican incumbent Ronnie “Bo” Burnett, he said.
Former County Trustee and Democrat David A. Kirk also is battling Republican Russ Hood for the county mayor’s seat, which is being vacated by the retirement of longtime Mayor Hal Moss, who was first elected in 1990.
Kirk has been trustee since 1994, while Hood resigned his seat on the Marion County school board to seek the mayor’s post.
Kirk’s entrance in the county mayor race leaves his old job open for either Democrat Sue Blevins or Republican Donna Sartin.
In contested County Commission races, voters will choose from Republican Charles “Buddy” Richardson and Democrat David B. West for the 4th District Seat A, and from Republican Gregg Marble and Democrat Mack Reaves for 4th District Seat B.
The 3rd District Seat A battle will be between Republican Melvin Turner and Democrat Don E. Adkins Jr.
County political party leaders each predicted victories.
County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Lewis said local Democrats have the strength of experience going into Thursday’s elections, while GOP Party Chairman Travis Layne said local Republicans offer a new direction.
Lewis said Kirk and trustee hopeful Blevins, the longtime deputy trustee, have established track records in government office.
“We have all of the experience; the other side has no experience,” he said.
But Layne said voters are looking for a change of course.
Republican Hood offers voters a different perspective along with his school board experience, and Sartin brings business experience to the ballot, Layne said.
“I think people are looking for something different this time,” he said. “People are looking for candidates with real-world experience.”
MARION BALLOT
(contested races only)
County mayor
Russ Hood (R)
David A. Kirk (D)
County Commission
3rd District Seat A
Melvin Turner (R)
Don E. Adkins Jr. (D)
4th District Seat A
Charles “Buddy” Richardson (R)
David B. West (D)
4th District Seat B
Gregg Marble (R)
Mack Reeves (D)
Trustee
Donna Sartin (R)
Sue Blevins (D)
Sheriff
Ronnie “Bo” Burnett (R)
Ronnie Davis Jr. (D)
School board (nonpartisan)
4th District
Neal Nelson
Ola Mae Reeves
5th District
Scotty Cumby
Jim Poston
Marsha A. Terry
Constable
4th District
Marion “Doolde” Richardson (R)
Terry L. Davis (D)
5th District
Darrell Powell (R)
Adam J. Smith (D)
Source: Marion County Election Commission