CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Bradley County turnout took off in the second week of early voting for the Aug. 2 county general and state primary elections.
By Saturday, the Bradley County Election Commission Office had tallied a combined 9,523 early and absentee ballots, which amounts to a 12.7 percent increase over the 8,449 early votes cast in the same elections in 2014.
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With only 4,284 ballots in the bag by the end of the first week of early voting, this election cycle initially tracked flat compared to 2014, despite open primary fields to succeed outgoing Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Sen. Bob Corker.
"I would have been hopeful the turnout would be higher with an open governor's seat and an open Senate seat," Fran Green, administrator of the Bradley County Election Commission Office, said midway during the early voting period.
On average, Bradley County early voting locations handled 136 more voters per day in the second week. Friday marked the high-water mark with 1,066 ballots and Saturday earned second place with 984 ballots.
Bradley Square Mall, which hosts one of the county's three early voting locations, served as a hub of campaign activity for the District 2 seat on the Bradley County Board of Education, with candidates and supporters holding signs and waving at passersby in the late July heat.
Vicky Beaty, who seeks a third term to the seat, faces challenger Chris Cassada in the race. Both candidates remarked upon the close of early voting on their social media pages Saturday.
"Early voting is in the books!" Beaty said. "Thank you for all the honks, thumbs-up, and words of encouragement today!"
"What a great show of support on the last day of early voting!" Cassada said. "Thanks to all who showed up!"
Other contested county races include District 7, Seat A on the Bradley County Commission and the District 4 school board seat.
Dianna Calfee, who seeks a second term on the school board, faces Troy Weathers. Weathers held the District 4 seat for 16 years until Calfee defeated him in 2014.
Democrat Tammy Davis and Republican Kevin Raper seek the commission seat, which Mark Hall left vacant to pursue the Tennessee House District 24 seat. Republican primary voters decided the county commission's 13 other seats this spring.
Hall competes with David Farless, Alan Ledford and Garry D. Moore for the Republican nomination for the House seat. Democrat Mallory Pickert faces the Republican primary victor in November.
Cleveland voters will decide whether the city's next mayor will be Duane Schriver, a retired educator, or Rep. Kevin Brooks, who is not seeking re-election to the House District 24 seat.
Tom Rowland, the longest-serving mayor in Tennessee who has been in office since 1991, announced in January he would not seek re-election.
Ken Webb, former president and CEO of Cleveland Utilities, and business owners Larry D'Agata, David Durkin and Scott McGowan seek the Cleveland City Council At-Large 2 seat.
Attorney Richard Banks, who now holds the post, announced in December he would not seek re-election.
Charlie McKenzie, who seeks re-election to the District 1 seat on the Cleveland City Council, faces challenger Hiawatha Brown.
Walter Goode, Garett Hammontree and Allen Martin compete for two seats on the Charleston City Commission. Goode has long served as the mayor of the three-member body.
Contact Paul Leach at paul.leach.press@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_3.