Forecast: A Good Day For Voting
A local meteorologist said voters will find clear skies and 70 degree temperatures when they hit the polls to cast their ballots in today’s Bristol and Bluff City elections.
“It’s going to be absolutely gorgeous, there’s going to be no reason not to vote,” NewsChannel 11 Meteorologist Mark Reynolds said Monday as he delivered the forecast.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at five precincts in the two cities. Depending on where they live, voters will pick from a slate of candidates seeking spots on their city’s board of mayor and aldermen, city council or board of education.
Bluff City
Bluff City voters today will choose either incumbent Mayor Todd Malone or challenger LonGene Leonard to lead their city for the next four years. They also will pick two people from a list of five candidates to fill seats on the Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen. All are for terms of four years.
Incumbent Aldermen Don Weaver and Irene Wells are seeking re-election, and facing challengers Robert Miller, Betty O’Dell and Sierra Summers.
City residents who normally cast ballots at the Piney Flats Fire Hall precinct will vote at the Bluff City Middle School precinct during today’s election. There are 896 registered voters in the city, said County Elections Administrator Jason Booher, who is predicting a 30 percent voter turnout for this contest.
Bristol
Booher said he’s expecting a 15 percent turnout for Bristol’s city election, where voters will pick from candidates seeking spots on the Board of Education and City Council.
Aaron Brooks and Kelly Buskell are running for the school board’s 1st District seat while Jason Rush is going against incumbent Tony Turner for the 4th District seat. Both are for four-year terms.
Former Tennessee High School Principal Nelson Pyle is running unopposed for the board’s 3rd District Seat. Incumbent Gwen Ellis also is running unopposed for her seat representing the board’s 5th District.
Candidates must live in a particular district to seek that seat on the school board, but voters come from all over the city, Booher said. The same rings true for Bristol City Council elections, he said.
In this contest, Danny Marshall is running against incumbent Margaret Feieraband for her seat representing the city’s south district, while incumbent David Shumaker and challenger Steven Willinger are running for the council’s west district seat.
Michael Hilton’s name also will appear on the ballot for the west district seat, but he has suspended his campaign because he owns a liquor store and is barred from serving on council.
Incumbent Joel Staton is unopposed for his seat representing the east district.
For both elections, the city’s eight precincts will be combined into four. Voters who normally cast ballots at the Valley Pike precinct will go to Holston View; Buffalo Ruritan voters will go to Avoca; East High School voters to the YWCA; and the Sullivan County Office Building voters will go to Anderson Elementary School.
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Reader Reactions
Hmm, I was thinking she was a school teacher there for some reason…oh well…you have my vote and hope your son has as great of experience at Anderson as mine did. You can’t ask for a more wonderful group of teachers. I had the greatest pleasure of having Dixie Bowen as principal but hear the new one is great as well.
It is my understanding she does not work at Avoca.
I find it disturbing myself that Mr. Turners child does not go to Anderson. But, doesn’t his wife work at Avoca? Im sure any parent would do the same as they have. But to fully represent our district I would think you would need a child in the district to understand the needs. My child went to Anderson and the needs of Anderson School are very different to the needs of Avoca. All schools in this system should have the same advantages regardless of the income level of the majority of students but that is not the case. As a parent of a child that attended both schools, Avoca goes on more field trips, has more extracurricular programs and opportunities but the teachers and learning experience at Anderson elementary are unparrallel to any. The children at Anderson are so lucky to have the wonderful teachers that they do.
Jason Rush, you have my vote! I’ve known you almost my whole life. While I haven’t saw you in years, hopefully I’ll see you today at the polls.
As you consider your vote today in District 4, please consider these two things. While both candidates live in and seek to represent District 4, only Jason Rush has his children attending school in District 4, despite both candidates having elementary aged children. Why does Mr. Turner not support the school that serves his district? Is this a potential conflict? How does this effect the balance of the rest of the board? Second, in his two years on the board, if his strength is technology why are there schools (like the one in the district Mr. Turner seeks to represent)that have a budget of $0 dedicated to technology? He has had two years and has done nothing with this “strength” the BHC refers to. Until we have an at large system, District 4 should be represented by someone whose children aren’t driven out of district to attend another school in the city. This helps us insure our schools needs are being met by having representation familiar with the school(s) they represent and maintains balance on the board. If you want open and honest communication, and representation from someone who actually supports District 4 through action, vote for me, Jason Rush. I am for improving the partnership between parents, teachers and administration for the shared goal that is the future of our children. I will put our children and our families before politics. Education is for everyone and is the one way we can all move up. I am for holding our school system responsible for measurable development and improvement in the education and skills necessary for our children to be able to effectively contribute to our workforce, when their time comes. Together, we will all be the strength in building our community’s education. Vote Jason Rush for school board in District 4.
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