In a major upset Tuesday, county District 9 Commissioner Bill Hullander beat incumbent Carl Levi in the Hamilton County trustee’s race.
“It’s really humbling to me,” Mr. Hullander said. “I appreciate all of the encouragement I had from the taxpayers throughout this whole campaign. I’m just honored to be in this position.”
Mr. Hullander attributed his victory to the Times Free Press, saying negative editorials united voters behind him. The person who answered his cell phone initially hung up when a reporter called for a quote.
Mr. Levi did not return a call for comment. Mr. Hullander said he had “big shoes to fill” when he takes over as trustee.
Mr. Hullander, 64, and Mr. Levi, 79, both are longtime public servants. Mr. Hullander first was elected to the commission in 1998 and gave up his seat to run for trustee. Mr. Levi first was elected trustee in 2002.
Their campaign spilled over into their work as elected officials. During the campaign, Mr. Hullander twice questioned Mr. Levi during regular commission meetings about awarding a banking contract.
Mr. Hullander said he was not campaigning from the dais or running a negative campaign after Mr. Levi accused him of doing both. Mr. Hullander said he wanted to make the trustee’s office more customer friendly and more efficient. Mr. Levi said the office is efficient and that he had more experience than Mr. Hullander.
The trustee’s salary is $100,772.
There is no Democratic or independent opponent for the county general election in August. County officials will be sworn in Sept. 1.
All vote totals, which include federally mandated provisional ballots, are unofficial until certified by the Tennessee Division of Elections.
PDF: Hamilton County District 1 (R)
PDF: Hamilton County District 2 (R)
PDF: Hamilton County District 4 (D)
PDF: Hamilton County District 5 (D)
PDF: Hamilton County District 7 (R)
PDF: Hamilton County District 8 (R)
PDF: Hamilton County District 9 (R)
PDF: Hamilton County Mayor (R)
PDF: Hamilton County Trustee (R)
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Hamilton County Primary Elections results