| For
the first time in at least 60 years, Owen County will have a Republican
primary for county judge-executive.
Most recently, the county had a Republican candidate for the office
in 2002 when Tom Olds ran against Democrat Billy O’Banion
and Independent Horace “Doug” West for the position.
Olds also ran against O’Banion in 1998 and in 1993 against
Ronnie Dunavent, whom he defeated to hold the position for a five-year
term.
Before Olds’ foray into the political field, however, it
had been 45 years since the county had even had a Republican candidate
for the seat, let alone a primary race. That year, Salin Holbert
ran as a Republican for the office.
Available county election records in the Owen County Clerk’s
office go back only to 1949, however, making it difficult to do
additional research on the subject.
In this year’s primary, set for May 16, Horace “Doug”
West, Stephen Miller and Gary Minch will square off for the chance
to run for the county judge-executive’s seat in the general
election in November.
On the Democratic side, incumbent Billy O’Banion will face
Kevin Anderson in May and the winner of that race will meet the
winner of the Republican race in November.
The county judge’s seat was just one of several that drew
considerable interest for this year’s local elections.
Candidates streamed into the county clerk’s office early
this week to ensure they made the 4 p.m. Tuesday filing deadline.
Locally only the county attorney, circuit clerk, jailer, coroner
and constable district 1 races are uncontested.
Owen County Clerk
With the retirement of current Owen County Clerk Mary Kay Duncan,
the field opened up for this position. Longtime Deputy Clerk Joan
Kincaid will face Mary Helen Smih and Jeff Haines in the Democratic
primary in May. The winner will assume the position in January.
Owen County Sheriff
Incumbent Zemer Hammond will face Billy Cunningham in the May
primary for the right to run as the Democratic candidate in the
fall. The winner of the Hammond-Cunnigham race will face Richard
Dale Poe Sr., who currently serves as constable.
Owen County PVA
Democratic and Republican primaries are lined up in the property
valuation administrator’s race. Lee Cochran, the current
PVA, will retire. Democrats Joyce Duvall, Melissa Kemper and Jimmy
Coyle will meet in the Democratic primary with the winner facing
the winner of the Republican primary. Facing off in that race
are Troy M. Bramblett and Thomas Byrd Lawhon Jr.
Magistrate District 1
With current magistrate Gary Minch vying for the judge-executive’s
seat, the position of magistrate in the district is up for grabs.
In the Democratic primary, Jerry Jones will face Mike McDonald
in May. The winner will meet J.T. Olds in November to determine
who will hold the seat.
Magistrate District 2
Incumbent Bobby Gaines will face some competition in May for the
District 2 Magistrate’s seat. Gaines, Stuart Bowling and
Richard Hampton, all Democrats, will face off in the May primary
to determine the winner of that seat.
Magistrate District 3
Eugene “Bugs” Vannarsdall, the incumbent in the District
3 Magistrate’s race, will face Tommy Dews and Teresa Kemper
Davis in the May primary. The winner of that race will meet Matt
Toftness, a Republican, in November to determine who will hold
the seat for the next four years.
Magistrate District 4
Incumbent Carl Banks will face Eric Goodrich, Noel True and Ray
Smith in the Democratic primary for this seat. The winner will
assume the position in January.
Constable District 1
Incumbent Don Slaughter will face Brian Riddle in the Democratic
primary for the seat.
Constable District 2
Incumbent Brian Young will face Wayne Renfro and David Wilhoite
in the Democratic primary.
15th District Judge Division 1
James L. Purcell, current district judge, will face Elizabeth
Chandler Lester and John Brenth Threkheld for the position.
State Representative
Democratic incumbent Royce Adams will face Republican Pam Mann
in November for the 61st District Representative’s seat.
U.S. Representative
After taking a term off, Democrat Ken Lucas will run for the U.S.
Representative seat against Republican incumbent Geoff Davis.
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