Casavant, Mackey, Bankston leading
By Dan Whisenhunt
and Chris Carroll
dwhisenhunt@timesfreepress.com
All vote totals, which include federally mandated provisional ballots, are unofficial until certified by the Tennessee Division of Elections.
District 1
(Soddy-Daisy, Bakewell, Mowbray, Sale Creek and portions of Red Bank)
In a potential repeat of his 2006 victory over challenger Laura Oakley, 50, longtime Hamilton County Commissioner Fred Skillern, 73, is leading his opponent, 338 votes to 117 votes with 33 percent of precincts reporting.
District 2
(Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Walden, Falling Water, Mountain Creek and portions of Lookout Valley)
With 59.3 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent commissioner Dr. Richard Casavant leads James Fields, 413 votes to 407.
Dr. Casavant, 67, who is dean of the College of Business at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and Mr. Fields, 55, a local attorney, squared off over tax rates and term limits.
(The winner) faces independent David Cantrell in the Aug. 5 county general election.
District 3
(Hixson, Middle Valley, Lakesite)
Commissioner Jim Coppinger, 56, was the only incumbent without any challenger anxiety Tuesday. Despite the absence of any opponents, District 3 voters rewarded him 704 votes with about 46 percent of precincts reporting.
Mr. Coppinger’s uncontested primary victory sends Chattanooga’s retired fire chief to August’s general election ballot, where he will remain without an official challenger.
District 4
(Alton Park, Avondale, Bushtown, East Chattanooga)
Incumbent Warren Mackey appears to be on his way to a second term on the commission. With 82.6 percent of precincts reporting, Dr. Mackey held a 579 to 86 lead over his opponent, former City Councilwoman Debbie Gaines, 55.
Even though Ms. Gaines withdrew her candidacy, Dr. Mackey, 60, claimed she still had yard signs up and feared she could get elected because of voter apathy. Ms. Gaines said she would serve, if elected.
There is no general election opposition for the seat.
District 5
(Summit, Bonny Oaks, Woodmore, Dalewood)
Commissioner Greg Beck, 62, appears to have a firm hold against repeat challenger, Dr. Bernie Miller, 58, tallying a 892 vote count with about 52 percent of precincts reporting, while Dr. Miller has 410. The Chattanooga City Court officer defeated Dr. Miller in the 2006 general election, when his opponent ran as a Republican for the same commission seat.
There is no general election opposition for the seat.
District 6
(St. Elmo, Lookout Valley, Missionary Ridge, Highland Park, Moccasin Bend, East Lake and portions of Red Bank)
With 83.3 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent John Allen Brooks, running unopposed on the Democratic ballot, has 213 votes. Joe Graham, running unopposed on the Republican ticket has 348 votes.
Incumbent John Allen Brooks, 55, ran unopposed on the Democratic ballot and Joe Graham, 44, was unopposed on the Republican ballot. The race will now move to the Aug. 5 county general election.
District 7
(East Brainerd, Westview, portions of Collegedale and Ooltewah)
Commissioner Larry Henry, 61, is continuing the incumbent dominance, holding off challenger Gordon Anderson, 62, with 237 votes to Mr. Anderson’s 71 votes with almost 37 percent of precincts reporting.
There is no general election opposition for the seat.
District 8
(East Ridge, Brainerd, Eastgate)
The Republican primary for the District 8 seat appears to be closest of all, as Tim Boyd is edging Jack Martin 146 to 118 with about 47 percent of precincts reporting.
In August, the winner will face Democrat Kenny Smith, the leading primary fundraiser of all county government candidates. A lack of primary opposition hasn’t stopped 181 voters from supporting Mr. Smith with about 47 percent of precincts reporting.
Mr. Smith was the leading fundraiser in all county government primary races.
The seat was held by Commissioner Curtis Adams, who served for 22 years. He resigned and was named city manager of Crossville, Tenn., in March.
District 9
(Birchwood, Harrison, Apison, portions of Ooltewah and Collegedale)
With 47.4 percent of precincts reporting, Chester Bankston leads with 230 votes. Gary Neil has 205 votes and Richard Tornquist has 47 votes. John C. Turner, who has dropped out of the race, has 57 votes.
Commissioner Bill Hullander gave up this seat to run for county Trustee against incumbent trustee Carl Levi. (He won/lost Tuesday evening.) Mr. Tornquist, 72, Mr. Neil 52 and Mr. Bankston, 64, each agreed seniors should have their property taxes frozen, but had differing views on issues like tax increases, consolidation, and the state of education in the county.
There is no general election opposition.
Hamilton County commissioners, who serve four-year terms, will be sworn in Sept. 1. Their salary is $20,745.