In two of the closest Hamilton County Commission races in Tuesday’s Republican primary, the prevailing candidates both gave credit to their work as members of governing bodies for county municipalities for swaying votes in their favor.
Gene-o Shipley, who’s served on the Soddy-Daisy City Commission for 26 years, received 42.2% of the vote in the District 1 race, narrowly beating two-term incumbent and fellow Soddy-Daisy resident Randy Fairbanks, who received 38% of the vote. Business owner and educator Stacy Swallows, of Sale Creek, received 19.3% of the vote.
“I think a lot of that had to do with the work I’ve done here in Soddy-Daisy,” Shipley said by phone Wednesday, as to why he thinks voters chose him over the other candidates. “I believe even though Soddy-Daisy voters turned out good for me, a lot of Bakewell, Falling Water and Sale Creek as well knew that I’ve worked hard in Soddy-Daisy all them years, and I think they trusted that I’d work hard for District 1.”
(READ MORE: Four Hamilton County Commission races decided in primary election)
Shipley said he plans to finish the remaining two years of his term on the Soddy-Daisy board.