Candidates for various public offices announced their intentions during the DeKalb County Democratic Party Mass Meeting Saturday at the high school cafeteria.
The May 6th DeKalb County Democratic Primary looks to feature at least three contested races for county offices including County Clerk, General Sessions Judge, and Road Supervisor.
Three term Incumbent County Clerk Mike Clayborn will face opposition from James L “Jimmy” Poss. General Sessions Judge Bratten Cook, II is being challenged for a third eight year term by Margie Rigsby Miller. Jimmy Sprague and Shane Walker will battle for the Democratic nomination for Road Supervisor.
Smithville Alderman Tim Stribling announced his candidacy for County Mayor.
Mike Foster, the Democratic Incumbent County Mayor, did not attend the Mass Meeting and has not yet made any announcement about whether he will seek a fourth term.
Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen and Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack each announced re-election plans. McMillen will be looking for his eighth term. Pack is seeking her fourth term.
Michael Agee will be running for Sheriff.
County Commission candidates making their intentions known Saturday included :
Jerry Hutchins, Jr. and Clarence Trapp in the Second District
Jerry Scott (Incumbent), Bradley Hendrix (Incumbent), and Jack Barton in the Third District. Barton, an incumbent county commissioner in the Second District has resigned that position because he has moved his residence to the Third District.
David McDowell (Incumbent) in the Fourth District
Rick Cantrell (Incumbent) and Anita Puckett in the Fifth District
Betty Atnip in the Sixth District
Larry Summers (Incumbent) and Kevin Robinson in the Seventh District.
Other Democrats who did not attend Saturday’s Mass meeting but who have picked up petitions from the election commission office are:
Kenneth Clayborn for County Commissioner in the First District
Elmer Ellis, Jr. for County Commissioner in the First District (Incumbent),
Bennett Armstrong for County Commissioner in the First District
Bobby Taylor for County Commissioner in the Fourth District
Wayne Cantrell for County Commissioner in the Fourth District (Incumbent),
Jeff Barnes for County Commissioner in the Sixth District (Incumbent),
Marshall Ferrell for County Commissioner in the Sixth District (Incumbent)
Two county commissioner candidates can be nominated from each of the seven districts.
An announcement was made on behalf of Benjamin Chad Curtis for Constable in the First District.
(VIEW PART 1 OF THREE PART VIDEO BELOW)
Several Democratic candidates for judicial offices in the seven county 13th Judicial District also attended the Mass meeting announcing plans to seek the party’s nomination including:
(VIEW PART 2 OF THREE PART VIDEO BELOW)
William F. Roberson of Putnam County who is running for Criminal Court Judge, Part I.
(VIEW PART 3 OF THREE PART VIDEO BELOW)
Anthony Craighead of Putnam County for District Attorney General
David N. Brady of Putnam County for District Public Defender (Incumbent)
Amy Hollars of Overton County for Circuit Court Judge, Part I (Incumbent)
Randall York of Cumberland County for Circuit Court Judge, Part II
Retiring Criminal Court Judge Leon Burns, Jr. spoke on behalf of Incumbent Chancellor Ronald Thurman, who was unable to attend the meeting.
Aubrey Givens and Rachel Givens, candidates for the Democratic State Executive Committee also spoke during the Mass meeting. The guest speaker was State Representative Gloria Johnson of Knoxville.
Amos Powers of Cookeville announced that he is seeking the Democratic Nomination for U.S. Representative in the 6th Congressional District which includes DeKalb County.
Candidates were not required to make announcements Saturday. The qualifying deadline for the May 6th primary is noon on February 20th with the DeKalb County Election Commission Office.
Although city races are non-partisan, Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss announced that he would be a candidate for re-election in August. Former alderman Gayla Hendrix, who lost a bid for re-election last summer, said she would be running for alderman again this August.