Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : Elections

Elections

Carr enters House race; Tracy adds to support team (05/05/13)
State Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas made his run for Congress official on Sunday, while State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville, already in the race, has announced additional supporters on his leadership team. Both Republicans are running for the 4th District seat currently held by another Republican, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg. Another Republican, Chase Williams, had announced a run as well but has since suspended his campaign, according to an announcement at his web site...

Tracy raises 4 times more than DesJarlais (04/16/13)
NASHVILLE -- State Sen. Jim Tracy has raised more than four times as much as the embattled congressional incumbent he is challenging in the Republican primary next year. According to campaign disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, Tracy raised more than $436,485 in the first quarter, compared with U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais' net of $104,532...

Help fight crime, DA tells GOP (04/12/13)
District Attorney General Robert Carter told Bedford County Republicans Thursday night that citizens need to take a more active role in talking to others about criminal behavior -- not just their own family but others in the community as well. "If you wait until it gets to me, it's too late," said Carter, the keynote speaker for the GOP's annual Reagan Day dinner at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds...

Carr announces fundraising total (04/10/13)
State Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas announced this week that his exploratory committee for the 4th District congressional seat has raised over $200,000. "This certainly sends a great signal that Tennesseans are interested in a Joe Carr for Congress candidacy," Carr said in a news release. "I can't tell you how appreciative I am of friends and neighbors who believe in me, and I don't take their trust in me lightly."...

Crim: No to caucus proposal (04/09/13)
U.S. Senate candidate Larry Crim of Nashville, in Shelbyville for Monday night's reorganizational meeting of Bedford County Democratic Party, expressed surprise and dismay at the recent proposal to select Senate nominees by legislative caucus instead of primary elections...

No voting at schools: Educators (03/22/13)
With an increasing emphasis on school security in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, some are questioning whether it's a good idea to have a polling place at a school on a day when school is in session. Commissioner Linda Yockey raised the issue Tuesday night during the meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee...

House hopeful aims at business (03/12/13)
Republican Congressional candidate Chase Williams visited Shelbyville on Saturday, saying that he wants to take a grass-roots approach to introducing himself to the people of the 4th District. Williams said that the most important issue facing any congressman is the economy...

Ramsey visits county (03/08/13)
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, in Shelbyville for a fund-raiser for Jim Tracy's congressional campaign, said that the chances for the bill to allow wine sales in supermarkets are promising. "It's looking better every day," Ramsey told the Times-Gazette...

Ramsey to appear at Tracy fund-raiser (03/05/13)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) has announced that Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) will attend a fund-raiser Thursday in Bedford County to benefit Tracy's campaign for the 4th District U.S. House of Representatives seat. "I support my friend Jim Tracy for Congress wholeheartedly and without reservation," said Ramsey in a news release issued by the Tracy campaign...

Inauguration thrills area resident (02/05/13)
Bell Buckle resident Rebekah Majors-Manley reflected back recently on her attendance at President Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21. "Initially I had given my tickets away to both events to other passionate volunteers wanting the honor to attend the exciting events of the president's inauguration and ball," Majors-Manley said. ...

Election forgery bargain: Get GED (01/04/13)
Getting a GED will be one of the requirements for a man who accepted a plea arrangement Thursday for forging signatures to run for the Shelbyville city council. Jimmy Neal Anderton, 44, of Highland Court, received a deferred judgement after pleading guilty to the Class E felony -- false entries on official registration of election documents, a crime that carried a one- to six-year sentence...

Tracy formally announces candidacy (01/03/13)
MURFREESBORO -- "I'm here today to announce my candidacy for the United States Congress," said State Sen. Jim Tracy during an appearance Wednesday at Reeves-Sain Drug Store. Tracy, Republican from Shelbyville with a background as an insurance agent, is seeking the 4th District house seat currently held by U.S. ...

Tracy to seek House seat (01/02/13)
State Sen. Jim Tracy was scheduled to announce his candidacy for the 4th District U.S. House of Representatives today at a midday press conference in Murfreesboro. The election will be held in 2014. Tracy, a Republican from Shelbyville, will run for the seat currently held by Republican Scott DesJarlais, a physician from South Pittsburg. He's the second Republican to announce interest in challenging DesJarlais for the seat, with the current session of Congress not even started yet...

Top Stories of 2012: A year to remember for student musicians (12/26/12)
Before we begin the Times-Gazette's annual countdown of the top stories of the year, a word about what wasn't included. The top story ballot, which is voted on by various members of the T-G staff, was being prepared at about the time the school security issue, both here and in Connecticut, was becoming news...

Carr will explore U.S. House bid (12/21/12)
State Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas has formed an exploratory committee for a possible primary challenge of his fellow Republican, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, in 2014. DesJarlais, a physician from South Pittsburg, represents the 4th Congressional District; Bedford County has moved into that district effective with the current 2012 election cycle and will be represented by DesJarlais when Congress convenes in January...

Political attacks solve nothing (11/08/12)
What have we learned? Reading the highly-emotional Twitter and Facebook posts of the past couple of weeks, I have to say we haven't learned much. America has a strong and vibrant political system. There are places for many different voices, and that's a good thing. Frankly, I don't think either the Democrats or the Republicans (or any of the alternate parties) have all the right answers...

County supports Romney, DesJarlais; Feldhaus, Rose win council races (11/07/12)
Bedford County strongly supported Republican candidates in state and federal races, voting by large majorities for the Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan ticket over the incumbent ticket of President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden. According to unofficial summary totals from the Bedford County election office, the total was 10,026 for Romney to 4,207 for Obama....

It's our choice (11/06/12)
Today is Election Day, with polls open until 7 p.m. See @times_gazette on Twitter and t-g.com for Bedford County election results. Southside students Aaron Fults and Landon Martin participate in a mock election. (Submitted photo)

Almost 8,000 vote early (11/02/12)
Early voting for Tuesday's general election ended on Thursday, with a total of 7,850 votes cast in Bedford County, not counting paper absentee ballots, which will continue to come in until Election Day. Total early and absentee vote was 8,505 four years ago...

Forgeries keep man off ballot (10/30/12)
A Shelbyville City Council hopeful blamed "lack of time" as the reason for forging 14 signatures on his qualifying petition, officials say. Jimmy Neal Anderton, 44, of Highland Court was barred from seeking the position after Bedford County election officials discovered the alleged forgeries...

State to appeal library ID ruling (10/26/12)
MEMPHIS -- After winning a ruling that upheld Tennessee's new law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls, election officials said they will ask the state Supreme Court to step in because the decision also ordered them to accept an ID issued by the Memphis public library...

Early voting strong so far (10/25/12)
Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election has been running ahead of the comparable election four years ago, according to Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette. As of close of business on Wednesday, a total of 3,977 early voters had cast their ballots. Early voting continues through Nov. 1 in the basement of the county courthouse...

Political arguing threatens unity (10/21/12)
I have to admit that I haven't been keeping up much with the presidential and vice presidential debates. Of course, if you're on any form of social media on the night a debate is taking place, you can hardly help but hear about it. Unfortunately, this type of debate has lost a lot of its usefulness, in part because of the ways in which all of us (the media, and various politically-oriented viewers) react to it...

Lewisburg attorney wants to be next public defender (10/19/12)
Early voting is now underway for this November's general election, but a Lewisburg man is already challenging an incumbent for an office that won't be on the ballot until August 2014. Lewisburg-based attorney Robert Dalton says he's a candidate for the office of public defender for the 17th Judicial District, which includes Bedford, Marshall, Lincoln and Moore counties. His campaign is to start early next year...

It's time to cast your vote (10/16/12)
Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election, including the presidential race, begins Wednesday and continues through Nov. 1 in the basement of the county courthouse. Hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday. State-issued or federal-issued photo ID is required, such as a driver's license. A college student ID does not qualify...

Dismissed civil suit appealed (10/11/12)
A former county employee has appealed her recently dismissed federal civil lawsuit to the United States Court of Appeals. Two weeks ago, District Court Judge Harry S. Mattice dismissed Cynthia L. Ray's suit against the county and trustee Tonya Davis filed in late 2010, claiming she had been fired for openly supporting Davis' opponent during that year's election...

Pruitt unopposed in re-election bid (10/11/12)
Jean Pruitt is running for re-election to her 5th ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 6 general election. Pruitt, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, is retired from Nationwide Express and is a past president of Shelbyville Kiwanis Club...

Rose seeks re-election to city council seat (10/05/12)
Kay Rose has announced her candidacy for reelection to the 3rd ward seat on Shelbyville City Council. "I love this community and serving on the council is a way of giving back and playing a role in promoting Shelbyville as a wonderful place to live, play and work," Rose said...

Peoples enters race for city council seat (10/04/12)
Lizzie M. Peoples has announced her candidacy for a 3rd Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 6 general election. She is a member of Shelbyville Kiwanis Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. She is a past member of Bedford County Board of Education and past president of the Women's Democratic Club. She is involved in numerous other organizations and is an active member of Victory Baptist Church. She recently retired from Jostens Inc...

Ray suit vs. Davis, county dismissed (09/28/12)
A federal lawsuit against the county and its trustee by a former county employee has been dismissed with prejudice. Cynthia L. Ray had filed a suit against the county and trustee Tonya Davis in late 2010, claiming she had been fired for openly supporting Davis' opponent during that year's election...

Holland a candidate for council re-election (09/26/12)
Jo Ann Holland has announced her candidacy for re-election to the 1st Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 6 general election. Holland is a lifelong resident of Bedford County. She is an ambassador for Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Shelbyville Rotary Club. She serves on the Community Clinic board and the Senior Citizens Center board. She is involved with numerous other organizations and is a member of Calvary Baptist Church...

Feldhaus enters race for city council seat (09/20/12)
Henry Feldhaus III has announced his candidacy for the Ward 1 seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 6 general election. Feldhaus, a former two-term Shelbyville mayor (1987 to 1995) and council member (1981 to 1987), decided not to seek reelection as mayor in 1995 after a self-imposed two-term limit...

Letter to the Editor, Sept. 6 (09/06/12)
To The Editor: This election is undoubtedly the most important in the history of America. Because of the failures of the policies of this Administration, we now have a $16 trillion debt, continual trillion dollar annual deficits, 24 million un- and under-employed, $4 gas prices, a stifled economy, and policies that discourage business growth. These are all topics that Obama neglects to address or misleads his audiences by spin, misstatements, and outright lies. What other options does he have?...

All the people should be heard (09/06/12)
Two weeks' worth of political party conventions and we're hearing the same rhetoric we've heard all summer. Both presidential candidates claim to be for the working person, and the rich person, and for our health, and for making us all prosperous, and to be the one who will change our world...

Wheel tax off agenda (08/29/12)
Bedford County Financial Management Committee, meeting Tuesday night, deferred action on a wheel tax proposal, effectively ending any chance of putting a referendum on the November general election ballot. That means that if a wheel tax is considered, it will either require a costly special election, or will have to wait until a future county-wide election, and the county doesn't have any more elections scheduled for two years...

Pruitt out of race for council (08/23/12)
Buster Pruitt has withdrawn from the race for Shelbyville's third ward council seat, two days after one of his opponents challenged his residency. Earlier this week, Lizzie Peoples filed a residential challenge against Pruitt, according to a letter from city attorney Ginger Shofner to council members and the mayor...

DesJarlais concerned with USDA (08/22/12)
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais has written U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack with concerns about Horse Protection Act enforcement which he said "cause great uncertainty for the industry and this coming 'Celebration.'" DesJarlais, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and its subcommittee on livestock, dairy and poultry, has asked to meet with Vilsack and his staff to discuss the issues...

Two city council incumbents to face challengers (08/19/12)
Aside from the presidential selection that voters will be making in November, local residents will also choose leaders closer to home. Thursday was the deadline for city council candidates in Shelbyville, Normandy and Wartrace to file their papers with Bedford County election commissioner Summer Leverette...

DesJarlais denies debate request (08/14/12)
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais has responded to his Democratic challenger's call for a debate, saying that State Sen. Eric Stewart hasn't "put forth any substantive platform" and has a "lack of clarity" on the issues, leaving nothing to debate about. Stewart, who was unopposed in this month's Democratic primary, had challenged Republican incumbent DesJarlais to three debates, issuing a press release on election night and later sending a formal request...

Stewart asks for debates (08/09/12)
State Sen. Eric Stewart of Winchester, a Democrat who is challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg for DesJarlais' 4th District House seat, has repeated his call for a series of debates. Stewart discussed the issue during a teleconference on Wednesday with reporters from the district...

UPDATED: Davis, Gallagher elected to commission seats (08/03/12)
In an election with light voter turnout and few contested races, Bob Davis defeated two other candidates for the District 2 county commission seat vacated earlier this year by Bobby Vannatta, while Don Gallagher defeated one challenger to retain the District 1 seat to which he was appointed in 2011 following the death of Phillip Vincent...

Marsh seeks another term in state House (07/31/12)
State Rep. Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville) has announced that he will seek re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 62nd District. In announcing his decision, Marsh stated, "My family and I are very grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support and encouragement during this process. We are humbled by the overwhelmingly positive comments sent our way," he continued...

Boutwell a candidate for school board seat (07/31/12)
John Boutwell has announced his candidacy as a write-in candidate for election to the 8th District seat on the Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 2 general election. No candidates qualified for the regular ballot. Boutwell was born and has lived in Bedford County his entire life. He attended Southside Elementary, Elm Street Junior High and Central High School...

Forsee seeks another term on school board (07/27/12)
Glenn Forsee has announced his candidacy for re-election to the 9th District seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 2 general election. Forsee has lived in Bedford County for over 27 years. He has served on the school board since June 2005...

Still time to vote early (07/26/12)
Early voting for the Aug. 2 primary and general elections ends Saturday. "It's been slow," said Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette, "but that's what we expected." As of about 10 a.m. Wednesday, 649 voters had participated in early voting -- 475 of those choosing to vote in the Republican primary, 171 in the Democratic primary, and the remaining three voting in the general election without voting in either party's primary...

Attack politics and Facebook (07/26/12)
A few months back, Facebook started giving users the option of unsubscribing to most or all someone's status updates, without actually de-friending them. It's a useful option as we approach election season. I have to admit, I've unsubscribed from a few people who were going overboard on the political postings...

Gallagher seeks full term as commissioner (07/25/12)
Don Gallagher has announced his candidacy for election to a District 1 seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the August 2 general election. Gallagher has been serving on the county commission since March 2011, when the full commission appointed him to complete Phillip Vincent's unexpired term of office...

Parker seeks third term on school board (07/18/12)
Dixie Parker has announced that she will run for re-election to the Bedford County School Board in District 1. Parker is a Bedford County native and a life-long resident of Bell Buckle. She is a 1963 graduate of Bell Buckle High School, completed LPN training through the Bedford County school system in 1967 and later attended Middle Tennessee State University...

Wanted: More candidates (07/12/12)
So many intelligent, talented people. Yet so few willing to offer their intelligence and talents to help others. Bedford County's general election is less than a month away. And, once again, the ballot is filled with unopposed candidates, many incumbents...

Voting machine inspection not attended (07/05/12)
No candidates or party representatives turned out Tuesday for the customary voting machine inspection which precedes early voting for the Aug. 2 general and primary elections. Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette, seen here holding the register tape documenting that each machine has been zeroed out in preparation for the vote, said it's typical for no one to attend, even though the inspections are announced to candidates, parties and the medial. Behind Leverette are the machines that will be used for early voting, which runs July 13-28. A separate inspection will be held for the machines to be used on Election Day....

Senate candidate Poskevich aims at Corker's record (07/01/12)
A Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate took aim at Bob Corker during a tour of county courthouses on Friday. While the searing heat kept many from being outside, Zach Poskevich stopped at the Bedford County courthouse to meet citizens and talk about his stand on the issues...

Clemens enters race for U.S. Senate seat (06/29/12)
Bedford County resident Mark Twain Clemens has announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. A resident of the Longview community since 1993, Clemens has worked 15 years as an explosive engineer for Tennessee Excavating. His platform is to reduce the $15 trillion dollar deficit by cutting government spending and raise tariffs to a reasonable amount...

Sloan seeks commission seat (06/27/12)
Bill Sloan has announced his candidacy for the second district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 2 general election. Sloan has lived in Bedford County for more than 8 years. Prior to that, he lived in Rutherford County for more than 30 years and was active in youth programs for more than 12 years...

Early voting for August election starts July 13 (06/27/12)
Early voting will start July 13 for the Aug. 2 primary and general elections, the first elections since new districts and voting precincts have taken effect. Legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years as a result of the U.S. Census, so that each district -- city council, county commission, state legislature or U.S. Congress -- in a particular legislative body has roughly equal population. Otherwise, some voters would have more say in the legislative process than others...

Tracy seeks to stay in State Senate (06/20/12)
State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville formally announced Monday that he will be a candidate for re-election to the Tennessee State Senate starting with the Aug. 2 Republican primary. Tracy's district was formerly the 16th but as a result of redistricting he, and Bedford County, are now in what is known as the 14th District, effective with this election cycle. The district includes Bedford, Marshall, Lincoln, and Moore Counties and portions of Rutherford County...

Vannatta seat stays unfilled (05/09/12)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners failed Tuesday night to fill recently retired commissioner Bobby Vannatta's request that his son-in-law fill his vacant District 2 commission seat. Vannatta, who retired from the commission last month after 19 years of service due to illness, had recommended Ralph Edwards fill his seat until the countywide general election is held in August...

Gregory joins race for commission seat (05/03/12)
Michael Gregory has announced his candidacy for a District 2 seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 2 general election. Gregory is a lifelong resident of Bedford County and a graduate of Cascade High School. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal science. ...

Democrats hear encouragement (04/25/12)
Bedford County Democrats heard a message of encouragement Tuesday night, even in a time when Republicans have dominated statewide and federal races across Tennessee. "I do think there's a lot of positives to the Democratic Party right now, and there's a lot we can be proud of," said local party member Mark Farrar, who emceed the party's annual banquet Tuesday night at the American Legion center on Kingree Road...

Vannatta seat debated (04/19/12)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee debated Tuesday night whether to make an appointment to the District 2 commission seat being vacated by Bobby Vannatta. Vannatta, who has had to miss a number of meetings in recent months, announced last week that he's retiring due to illness. He requested that his son-in-law Ralph Edwards be appointed to his seat...

3 city council seats up for grabs (04/06/12)
One of the items Shelbyville's city council will take up next week at their monthly meeting concerns getting ready for city elections this November. Bedford County election commissioner Summer Leverette told city recorder Vickie Haskins that the council will need to pass a resolution asking her office to hold the city election for wards 1, 3, and 5...

Changes ahead for voters (03/30/12)
Between district changes, seven voter precincts that are being closed and three more that are getting new polling places, about 18,000 Bedford County citizens will receive new voter registration cards within the next few weeks. For the most part, only those whose information is changing will receive new cards, according to Bedford County administrator of elections Summer Leverette. ...

DesJarlais makes 1st speech locally as U.S. Representative (03/30/12)
Bedford County will move from the 6th Congressional District to the 4th in this year's election cycle, and U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who currently represents the 4th District, made his first local public appearance during Thursday night's Bedford County Republican Party Reagan Day Dinner...

Governor visits Republicans (03/30/12)
Gov. Bill Haslam told a crowd of local Republicans and other dignitaries on Thursday that state government is trying to operate more efficiently and effectively, while still creating a jobs-friendly environment for the state and improving education...

Cook announces run for school board seat (03/23/12)
Michael A. Cook has announced his candidacy for the 5th district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 2 general election. Cook is a Bedford County native and a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School. He received a bachelor of business administration (BBA) degree in accounting from Middle Tennessee State University. ...

Haslam, DesJarlais to meet local GOP (03/08/12)
Gov. Bill Haslam will be the keynote speaker for Bedford County Republican Party's 2012 Reagan Day Dinner, to be held Thursday, March 29 at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais is also scheduled to attend, his first official appearance in Bedford County since it was announced that the county would move from the 6th Congressional District to the 4th in this year's election cycle. ...

Santorum wins Tennessee, Bedford County (03/07/12)
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum carried Bedford County by an even larger margin than Tennessee in Tuesday's Republican presidential primary, with a platform of social and religious issues that resonated with conservative voters. In Bedford County, with all precincts reporting, Santorum had 1,419 votes (41 percent), to 957 (28 percent) for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and 837 (24 percent) for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. ...

Polls open until 7 p.m. (03/06/12)
Poll workers Louise Moore, left, and Peggy Jones assist a voter at the Bedford County Courthouse precinct shortly after the 9 a.m. poll opening time for today's primary elections. There are no contested local races, and no challengers to President Obama in the Democratic presidential primary, leaving the GOP presidential primary as the only contested race. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Most countians say 'no' to early voting (02/28/12)
Today is the last day of early voting for the March 6 primary election. Voting has been slow so far, with only 633 early voters in the Republican primary and 167 in the Democratic primary, according Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette. But there was a spike of activity on Monday...

Letter to the Editor, Feb. 26 (02/26/12)
To the editor: I am not one to complain much. I am a proud American, a veteran of the Korean War, and pretty much a homebody. I have voted in every election I could vote in ever since my 21st birthday some 60 years ago. I was even selected to sign up our troops to vote by absentee ballot when I was a young soldier serving in Korea. I haven't always voted for the candidate that won the race or necessarily the one that kept campaign promises, but I voted...

Dismissal of trustee suit asked (02/21/12)
Bedford County and its trustee have filed a motion for summary judgment to end a federal suit brought by a former county employee. In late 2010, Cynthia L. Ray filed a suit against the county and trustee Tonya Davis, claiming she had been fired for openly supporting Davis' opponent during that year's election...

Early voting now underway (02/15/12)
Early voting for the March 6 primary elections, including the presidential preference primary, begins today and continues through Feb. 28 in the basement of Bedford County Courthouse. This is the first statewide election in which voters are required to show photo identification prior to casting their ballots...

Public can speak on city council wards (02/07/12)
Shelbyville residents will have their chance to speak their mind about the city's new wards during a public hearing set for Thursday. The hearing will start at 6 p.m. in the courtroom at Shelbyville police headquarters. Since November, the city council has been examining the layout of Shelbyville's council representation, which must be reviewed and adjusted every 10 years if necessary based on population growth...

Early primary voting starts soon (02/02/12)
In less than two weeks, early voting will begin for the March 6 primary elections. On the local ballot will be a presidential primary, as well as primary elections for county road superintendent and property assessor. Because Tennessee does not register voters by party, anyone can choose to vote in either the Democratic primary or the Republican primary (but not both, at least not for the same election)...

New House for Bedford (01/17/12)
State lawmakers on Friday approved redistricting plans for congressional and state legislative districts, and Gov. Bill Haslam is expected to sign the proposal. The biggest change for Bedford County is that the county moves from the 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), to the 4th, currently represented by Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-South Pittsburg)...

Tracy will not seek US House seat (01/10/12)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) announced on Monday that he will not be a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives but will instead run for re-election to his state seat. This year's congressional redistricting had led to some speculation that Tracy or others might challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais for the party nomination....

Bedford may move to 4th Congressional District (01/06/12)
Bedford County would move from the 6th Congressional District to the 4th as the result of proposed redistricting plans released Friday by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. State Sen. Jim Tracy told The Associated Press he hasn't had time to consider whether or not to run for the U.S. House in the new district...

Legislators pleased with proposed new districts (01/06/12)
Both of Bedford County's incumbent state legislators say they're happy with their proposed new districts. Proposed district maps were announced Wednesday by the Republican majorities in each chamber of the General Assembly. They won't be official until voted on by the General Assembly, which re-convenes next week...

Clanton announces bid for re-election (12/21/11)
Ronda Clanton of Shelbyville has announced her candidacy for re-election as Assessor of Property in the March 6, 2012 Democratic primary. Clanton, a graduate of Cascade High School, has lived in Bedford County for the past 37 years. She is married to Randy Clanton. They have four children. Clanton is a member of Fair Haven Baptist Church...

Road Superintendent to run for re-election (12/14/11)
Stanley Smotherman has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Road Superintendent in the March 6, 2012, Democratic primary. A Bedford County native, Smotherman has worked for Bedford County Highway Department for the past 33 years and has served as road superintendent since 2000. He currently serves as secretary/treasurer of Tennessee County Highway Officials Association...

7 voting precincts eliminated (11/10/11)
Seven of the county's 18 voting precincts will be closed after the March election, election administrator Summer Leverette told county commission members during her quarterly departmental report Tuesday night. The March 2012 primary election will include all 18 precincts; the closings won't take effect until after that, meaning the August primary and general elections will be affected...

Council takes first view of proposed new wards (11/02/11)
Shelbyville council members got their first look Tuesday at proposed changes to the city's wards. Every 10 years, following new U.S. Census figures, the wards for council representation are reviewed and adjusted if necessary based on population growth. This stems from the famous 1964 Supreme Court case that established the "one man, one vote" rule...

ID law talk (11/02/11)
Fewer than a dozen citizens showed up for an informational session about Tennessee's new voter identification law, which will require voters to show a valid photo ID at the polls. The new law goes into effect on Jan. 1, according to county election commissioner Summer Leverette, standing. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

Voter ID meeting is tonight (11/01/11)
An informational session about a new voter identification law will be held at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Bedford County Courthouse. The new law will require voters to show a valid photo ID at the polls. It won't go into effect until next year, but in preparation for this new requirement, Bedford County Election Commission is holding tonight's town hall-style meeting in the second floor courtroom...

Voter ID law could mean longer waits (09/27/11)
A new law requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls may result in longer lines next year, according to Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette. Several states adopted new laws last year requiring that people show a photo ID when they come to vote, even though the kind of election fraud that the laws are intended to stamp out is said to be rare. ...

City moves forward with property-rights voting ordinance (08/12/11)
Shelbyville took the first move Thursday evening to make sure that nonresident property owners have the right to vote. The council passed first reading of an ordinance that would allow people who own property in Shelbyville, but do not live within the city limits, to be able to vote by absentee ballot...

New commission districts approved (08/10/11)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved new county commission districts drawn as a result of 2010 Census figures. The "one person, one vote" rule, affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1960s, means that in a district-based legislative body, each district should be as close in population to the others as possible. Otherwise, citizens in underpopulated districts would have a greater say in government than those from overpopulated districts...

Property rights voters gain (08/07/11)
Citizens who own property in Shelbyville, but do not live within the city limits, would be able to vote by absentee ballot if a proposed ordinance is approved by the city council. Bedford County Election Commission Administrator Summer Leverette addressed the city council over the issue Tuesday night, telling members that the move would only apply to voters who live outside the Shelbyville city limits, but own property within the city and have registered with Leverette's office under that address. ...

Voting district lines to change (07/08/11)
The population figures from last year's census are about to be used for redrawing district lines for city council members, county commissioners, school board and road board members, state legislators and U.S. congressmen. The "one person, one vote" rule, affirmed by the U.S. ...

Harwell emphasizes positive approach (04/26/11)
Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell delivered an upbeat message at Bedford County Republican Party's Reagan Day Dinner on Saturday, saying that Republicans should model themselves after Ronald Reagan, speaking not with anger or bitterness but with confidence...

Redistricting process will begin soon (03/15/11)
Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette expects to receive the Census results next month which the county will need to begin the process of drawing new county commission districts. Leverette discussed the redistricting process during her quarterly report at this month's county commission meeting...

Presidential hopeful's goal: Visit every county in U.S. (02/24/11)
Colorado home-builder John Davis brought his GOP presidential campaign to Shelbyville on Wednesday with a stop at the Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. Davis, traveling in a brightly-painted tour bus, is attempting to visit all 3,200 counties in the U.S. as part of his campaign, and to visit the counties in three key primary and caucus states twice...

Boyce ruling overturned (02/13/11)
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has overturned a 2009 chancellor's ruling that reinstated Bedford County Sheriff Randall Boyce to peace officer certification, which allowed him to run for reelection last year. But the sheriff said he will appeal the ruling, saying the matter was "new legal ground."...

Suit accuses Davis of firing in retaliation (01/18/11)
A 24-year employee of the county trustee's office has filed a federal lawsuit against trustee Tonya Davis and Bedford County, claiming she was fired for openly supporting Davis' opponent during last year's election. Cynthia L. Ray claims that Davis and the county violated her 1st and 14th amendment rights, state rights, fired her in retaliation for exercising her constitutional rights, and intentionally inflicted emotional distress...

New council takes city's reins (12/10/10)
New Shelbyville council members took their seats last night after being sworn in for their four-year terms. And everyone agreed that they had a lot of hard work ahead of them. Outgoing councilman Al Stephenson thanked the citizens of Shelbyville for allowing him to serve three and a half years on the city council...

Class acts during rude times (11/07/10)
Now that the election is over and I can say whatever I want to the candidates, I only have one thing to say. Thank you. I am specifically directing those thanks to Jenny Hunt and Pat Marsh. I know them both, like them both, and wasn't eligible to vote for either because I live in a different district. ...

Marsh rides GOP wave to re-election; Gallagher, Stephenson, Cunningham lose to challengers (11/03/10)
State Rep. Pat Marsh, Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright and Normandy Mayor Larry Nee were handily re-elected Tuesday, but Wartrace Mayor Don Gallagher lost to challenger Ron Stacy, and Shelbyville city council members Al Stephenson and Lee Roy Cunningham lost to challengers as well...

Polls open until 7 p.m. (11/02/10)

I elect not to be scared by nasty ads (10/31/10)
I was interviewing Joe Peters over at the Walking Horse Hotel earlier this week about the haunted attraction he's started there. He made a comment that made me smile. "Everybody likes to be scared," he said. Well, that's not exactly true, and he realized it and followed it up with "when they know it's not real."...

Nearly 4,000 vote early (10/29/10)
A total of 3,992 Bedford County citizens participated in the early voting period for Tuesday's general election, according to deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson. Robertson said the turnout was only slightly lower than what the office had been expecting and that it indicates a "decently-large" turnout on election day...

Voting starts strongly (10/20/10)
A total of 1,432 votes were cast in the first week of early voting for the Nov. 2 general election, which began Oct. 13. "It's more than we expected," said deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson this morning. "We kind of expected it to be slow for a November election, but we've been surprised."...

Anderson leaves Bell Buckle seat (10/13/10)
Bell Buckle Alderman James Anderson resigned his position in a letter sent to the members of the board of mayor and aldermen last week, with today being his last day. Mayor Dennis Webb made the announcement at the Tuesday night work session held prior to the regular meeting...

Early voting period begins Wednesday (10/12/10)
Early voting will begin Wednesday for the Nov. 2 general election, including the race for Tennessee governor, an amendment to the Tennessee constitution to protect the right to hunt and fish, and other state and local contests. Early voting will run Oct. 13-28 in the basement of the county courthouse. Hours are 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Mondays, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays...

Cunningham vies for re-election to council (09/29/10)
Lee Roy Cunningham has announced his candidacy for re-election to a 4th Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 2 general election. "I have tried and [am] still trying to do you the people a good job," said Cunningham. "I have not forgotten who I work for. If you have any kind of a problem with the city, I will do my best to get it fixed...

Gallagher seeks another term as mayor of Wartrace (09/26/10)
Don Gallagher has announced his candidacy for re-election as mayor of Wartrace in the Nov. 2 general election. Gallagher has served as mayor as Wartrace since 1998. Prior to this tenure of office Gallagher had been on the Wartrace Board from 1980 to 1985 and mayor in 1986 and 1987...

Stephenson seeks 2nd city council term (09/24/10)
Al Stephenson has announced his candidacy for a 2nd Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 2 general election. Stephenson served as mayor from 1995 to 1999 and is now completing his first term on the council. He has served seven years on Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission and on the Bedford Railroad Authority board. ...

Landers announces for City Council seat (09/23/10)
Thomas Landers has announced his candidacy for a 6th Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 2 general election. Landers, 52, was appointed to the 6th Ward seat in 2008. He is a life-long resident of Shelbyville. Landers is married to the former Vicki Yoes; they have two children. He is the son of Lillie and the late Elbert Landers...

Davis seeks election as Shelbyville mayor (09/17/10)
Alton Davis has announced his write-in candidacy for mayor of Shelbyville in the Nov. 2 general election. Davis has been a licensed general contractor "most of my life," he said. He was assistant commissioner for Tennessee Department of Human Services and was director of the Department of Motor Vehicles for Tennessee Department of Revenue. He was director for the Section 504 program for the disabled, representing the state in a six-county area including Bedford...

Simpson seeks 2nd term as Wartrace alderman (09/15/10)
Ed Simpson has announced his candidacy for re-election to his seat as a Wartrace alderman in the Nov. 2 general election. Simpson, a native of Nashville, lived in Haley and Wartrace before moving to Nashville in 1945. He returned to Wartrace in 1989...

City councilmen face opposition (09/09/10)
Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright and Normandy Mayor Larry Nee will be unopposed for re-election on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, as will Normandy alderman Evelyn Hittson, but there will be contested races for Wartrace mayor, three Shelbyville city council seats and two Wartrace alderman seats...

Cartwright seeks 2nd Shelbyville mayoral term (09/08/10)
Wallace Cartwright has announced his candidacy for re-election as mayor of Shelbyville in the Nov. 2 general election. Cartwright is completing his first term, which will be only three years and four months due to a shift in the city's election schedule. City officials moved city elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years so that they could be held in conjunction with the state general election, saving the city the cost of paying for a stand-alone election...

McWherter, Black visit TWHNC (08/29/10)
Gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter and U.S. House candidate Diane Black visited the Celebration on Friday, eager for the chance to greet potential voters. McWherter is a past visitor to the Celebration whose cousin once exhibited here. Black, a state senator from Gallatin, made her first Celebration visit on Friday...

UPDATED: Horses aren't the only competitors at show (08/27/10)
It's Celebration season, and it's also election season, which means candidates for governor and the 6th District House seat will be making the pilgrimage to Shelbyville. Businessman Mike McWherter, the Democratic nominee for governor, plans to be at the show tonight, while Republican nominee and Knoxville mayor Bill Haslam will be at the show on Sept. 4, the night of the World Grand Championship...

Few changes made to final election results (08/13/10)
Bedford County Election Commission met Thursday evening to certify the local results of the Aug. 5 general and primary elections, making only minor changes to the totals announced on election night. No outcomes were changed in contested races. In the Republican primary, gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey's local total rose from 1,503 to 1,504, while congressional candidate Jim Tracy's total rose from 3,061 to 3,062...

Meek seeks 2nd Ward Shelbyville council seat (08/11/10)
Sam Meek has announced his candidacy for a 2nd Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 2 general election. Meek works with Goggin Warehousing. His career has included manufacturing, human resources and management positions. He has traveled in the U.S. and abroad on industrial development tasks...

Tracy concedes (08/10/10)
State Sen. Jim Tracy issued a concession statement this afternoon in the tight three-way Republican primary battle for the 6th District U.S. House race, although he left open the possibility that he would "reassess the situation" if irregularities came to light. "We've had a tough primary battle," stated Tracy in a news release, "but it is now time to look ahead to November and I encourage all the candidates to get behind our Republican nominee for Congress in the 6th District, Senator Diane Black." ...

Haslam, Tracy, Leming, Marsh, Hunt carry Bedford County in primaries (08/06/10)
Bedford County voters joined their counterparts statewide in choosing Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam as the Republican nominee for governor and giving complimentary votes to Mike McWherter, son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, as the unopposed candidate for the Democratic nomination. Haslam and McWherter will face each other, and a handful of independent candidates, in November....

Haslam brings Pearl for visit (08/04/10)
About 100 supporters packed Shelbyville's Parkway Cafeteria Tuesday to meet GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam -- but to also meet and get an autograph from UT men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl. With only two days before the Thursday primary, Haslam arrived at the popular dining spot in a colorful campaign bus to sell his message...

'Pretty decent' turnout for early voting (08/03/10)
A total of 2,316 citizens participated in the early voting period for Thursday's primary and general elections, according to deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson. That total include 1,675 who voted in the Republican primary and 640 who voted in the Democratic primary...

Guinn competes for Commission position (07/27/10)
Rodney Guinn has announced his candidacy for the 4th District seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Guinn is a 1989 graduate of Moore County High School. He has received certifications in HVAC and commercial truck driving from Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville...

Smith asks for re-election to Commission (07/27/10)
Tony Ray Smith has announced his candidacy for re-election to a 2nd District seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Smith currently serves on the Courthouse and Property Committee and Zoning Board. Smith is a United States Army veteran and served in Vietnam, worked at American National Can for 33 1/2 years as a supervisor or production and product control maintenance. ...

Republicans outnumber Democrats in early voting (07/25/10)
With just one week left in early voting before the Aug. 5 primary and general election, Republicans are casting more ballots than Democrats by over a two to one margin in Bedford County. Election Commissioner Summer Leverette said Friday that turnout has been "a bit slow" during the first week of voting at the Bedford County Courthouse, where folks can beat the crowd on Election Day and cast their ballots early...

Ramsey brings campaign to county (07/25/10)
With Tennessee's gubernatorial primary now less than two weeks away, Bedford County got a visit from GOP candidate Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. Ramsey made several stops Friday afternoon, visiting local law enforcement agencies and meeting the public. His first stop was at the Shelbyville Police Department, followed by visits to the Bedford County Sheriff's Department. Parkway Restaurant, and Bell Buckle Cafe...

Gann seeks 3rd District Board of Education seat (07/21/10)
Rick Gann has announced his candidacy for election to a 3rd District seat on the Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 5 general election. Gann and his wife, Jeanna, have been married 23 years. They have one daughter who has attended school at Community Elementary School since beginning school and will begin attending Community Middle School in the fall. Gann and his wife moved to Bedford County in 1996...

McLellan seeks Congressional seat (07/20/10)
Bruce McLellan is a candidate for the Sixth District U.S. House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 5 Republican primary. McClellan is directing voters to his web site, www.BruceMcLellanForCongress. org, for more information about him and his campaign...

Brothers runs for re-election to commission (07/18/10)
Janice Brothers has announced her candidacy for re-election to a 3rd District seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Brothers is the wife of the late Roger Brothers who served as commissioner for thirty years until his death in July of 2008. Janice Brothers was elected to finish his unexpired term...

Farrar seeks another commission term (07/18/10)
P.T. "Biff" Farrar has announced his candidacy for re-election to a 9th District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Farrar is chair of the commission's rules and legislative committee. Farrar taught social studies at Central High School for 20 years. ...

Guinn enters race for school board seat (07/16/10)
Sandra Guinn has announced her candidacy for a 4th District seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 5 general election. Guinn worked for Walmart for 13 years, including five years in retail management, and currently works as a stay-at-home mother...

Haile seeks school board position (07/16/10)
Gary Wayne Haile has announced his candidacy for election to a 7th District seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 5 general election. Haile has been employed by Workforce Solutions for 15 years and worked for the school system from 1990 through 1996 at Harris Middle School in the special education department. He is a 1977 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School...

Barrett asks re-election to 7th District seat (07/15/10)
Tony Barrett has announced his candidacy for re-election to a seventh district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Barrett has worked in law enforcement in Bedford County for 32 years as a member of Bedford County Sheriff's Department, for which he currently holds the rank of captain; as a part of the district attorney's office; as judicial commissioner; and for six years as school resource officer at Cascade High School...

Castleman seeks re-election to commission seat (07/15/10)
Edward "Ed" Castleman has announced his candidacy for re-election to an 8th District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. This would be his third full term. He is a member of the commission's rules and legislative committee and a member of the Bedford County Emergency Communications District (E-911) board...

6th District hopefuls speak out at forum (07/14/10)
MURFREESBORO -- Nine candidates and one spokesperson gave their views as the clock ticks down on primary season in Tennessee's 6th Congressional District race. With ten people in the running -- six vying for the Republican slot, three wanting the Democratic nomination and one running as an independent -- the stage at the Tennessee Livestock Center at Middle Tennessee State University was packed...

Graham a candidate for county commission (07/13/10)
Denise Graham has announced her candidacy for a seventh district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Graham, a registered nurse for seven years, works at StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna. A 1990 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School, she received her nursing degree from Motlow State Community College in 2003...

Neeley seeks re-election to Board of Education (07/11/10)
Diane Neeley has announced her candidacy for re-election to a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 5 general election. Neeley, a Bedford county native, has lived in the Wheel area for the past 27 years. She is a 1982 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School and graduated from Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, where she obtained her dental assisting license which is currently retired. ...

Yockey seeks another term on commission (07/11/10)
Linda Yockey has announced her candidacy for re-election to a fifth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. The district includes the Flat Creek, Normandy and Raus precincts. Yockey has been a science teacher for 30 years, with tenure, previously at Cascade High School and now at Shelbyville Central High School, where she teaches physics and chemistry...

Vannatta asks re-election to county commission (07/09/10)
Bobby Vannatta has announced his candidacy for re-election to a second district seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the August 5th general election. Vannatta was first elected to the Commission in 1994. He currently serves on the financial management committee...

Martin seeks re-election to school board seat (07/09/10)
Amy F. Martin has announced her candidacy for re-election to the third district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 5 general election. Martin has been employed at the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville for 38 years; she serves as the coordinator for fiscal services and human resources and also teaches evening classes and special industrial classes in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint...

Peoples seeks commission seat (07/08/10)
Lizzie M. Peoples of Shelbyville has announced her write-in candidacy for a seventh district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Peoples and her husband Clyde have two daughters and three grandchildren and are members of Victory Baptist Church...

Woodson a candidate for commission seat (07/08/10)
Jimmy Woodson has announced his candidacy for re-election to a fourth district seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. The district is composed of Bedford, Liberty and Wheel precincts. Woodson served as county mayor from 1998 until 2006. ...

Adcock seeks re-election to Board of Education (07/07/10)
Ronald H. Adcock has announced his candidacy for re-election to a Second District seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 5 general election. Adcock is the former director of Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville. A Bedford County native, he is a graduate of Community High School and Middle Tennessee State University, earning a bachelor's degree in industrial management and a master's in vocational / technical education...

Graham seeks school board seat (07/06/10)
Chad Graham has announced his candidacy for a seventh district seat on Bedford County Board of Education. Graham was appointed in November 2009 to succeed Jerry Naron, who died in September 2009. Graham, 43, has been director of Bedford County Emergency Medical Services for 13 years. He is a Bedford County native and has been a county employee since 1990...

Primary, general elections have different purposes (07/04/10)
Some voters who have spoken with the Times-Gazette are unclear about the difference between the primary and general elections which will both take place on the same day in August. Here is a brief explanation: In the general election, you are helping to make the final decision about who will take office. In the primary election, you are helping to choose your party's nominee to run in the November general election for state and federal offices...

Tillett seeks re-election to county commission (07/02/10)
Joe Tillett of Shelbyville is a candidate for a sixth district seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners. Tillett, a Bedford county native, is a graduate of Central High School and a Vietnam veteran who served in the U. S. Navy. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and earned his Master of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis in Finance, from Pfeiffer University in North Carolina...

Thomas seeks re-election to county commission (07/01/10)
Mark Thomas has announced his candidacy for re-election to a Ninth District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Thomas is the chief of Bedford County Fire Department. He has been with the county fire department a total of 29 years. During part of that time, the department was an independent non-profit known as Volunteer Fire Services Inc. It is now once again a division of county government...

Epperson enters race for 4th district commission seat (06/30/10)
Anita Epperson of Shelbyville has announced her write-in candidacy for a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Epperson currently works for DMS in Shelbyville. She worked as a master barber and manager for a clothing store before working in the newspaper industry for 14 years. She then worked in the internet sales business...

Registration ends July 6 for election (06/24/10)
July 6 is the last day for new or purged voters to register and be eligible to participate in the Aug. 5 primary and general elections. Early voting will begin July 16 and continue through July 31. Voters may register in the county election office in the basement of the courthouse, or at any of these other locations:...

'Joe the Plumber' backs Zelenik (06/22/10)
Joseph "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher appeared Friday at the Bell Buckle Caf� to campaign for Republican Lou Ann Zelenik in the Sixth District U.S. House of Representatives race, saying that citizens should do their own research on the issues and should let principles guide them...

Commission write-ins ask to be counted (06/20/10)
Three women have asked that write-in votes for them be counted in county commission races in the Aug. 5 general election. Although Tennessee gives voters the opportunity to cast write-in votes, those votes are not counted unless the recipient asks ahead of time for them to be counted. The deadline for potential write-in candidates to fill out that form at the county election office was Wednesday...

'Joe the Plumber' stumps for Zelenik (06/20/10)
Joseph "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher appeared Friday at the Bell Buckle Caf� to campaign for Republican Lou Ann Zelenik in the Sixth District U.S. House of Representatives race, saying that citizens should do their own research on the issues and should let principles guide them...

Candidate spends day on the 'job' (06/18/10)
"I'm pretty good at this!" That was the declaration made by Mike McWherter, the unopposed Democratic candidate for governor, as he loaded a massive dishwasher Thursday at Parkway Diner. "We used to have one just like this in the governor's mansion -- and I had to use it, too!"...

Commission to choose school board member (06/17/10)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee, meeting Tuesday night, placed the sixth district vacancy on Bedford County Board of Education on the full commission's June agenda, even though the seat will be filled in the August general election...

Northcutt enters race for Shelbyville council (06/17/10)
Rex Northcutt has announced his candidacy for a Sixth Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 2 general election. Northcutt has been city engineer and surveyor for 28 years and a member of Shelbyville Planning Commission for 10 years. He is a past member of the Chamber of Commerce board, serving three terms; a member and past president of the Shelbyville Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow...

Marine joins Leming on campaign trail (06/11/10)
Retired Marine John Castellaw visited Shelbyville on Thursday to campaign with Ben Leming, a Democratic candidate for the Sixth District U.S. House seat who is also a former active duty Marine. Before retiring two years ago, Castellaw served as what he described as the chief financial officer for the Marine Corps. He had also been chief of staff for U.S. Central Command and commanded U.S. operations in East Timor in 1999-2000...

GOP candidates argue over immigration bill (06/11/10)
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Senate and House approved a bill which requires jails in Tennessee to send information to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding prisoners who don't have documentation that they are in the U.S. legally. State Sen. ...

Candidates for House seat (06/04/10)
Here is a list of official ballot candidates for the Sixth District U.S. House seat: Diane Black, Gallatin Dave Evans, Wartrace Gary Dewitt Mann, Franklin Bruce McLellan, Livingston Kerry E. Roberts, Springfield Jim Tracy, Shelbyville Lou Ann Zelenik, Murfreesboro...

Candidates discuss illegal aliens, landfill (06/04/10)
Recent activity among candidates for the Sixth District U.S. House of Representatives seat being vacated by Rep. Bart Gordon: State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville and State Sen. Diane Black of Gallatin, both Republicans, have traded charges over Black's position on illegal immigration. ...

Commission seat qualifying won't reopen (06/03/10)
Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette confirmed this morning that qualifying will not be re-opened for the two seventh district county commission seats, and that seventh district commission member Joyce Tune, who died Monday, will not appear on the Aug. 5 general election ballot...

Longtime commissioner Tune dies (06/01/10)
Long-time county commission member Joyce Tune died Monday at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Tune was appointed to succeed her husband, George Tune, in a seventh district seat on the commission following George Tune's death in 1987, and voters continued to re-elect her to the seat. She had already filed to run for re-election this year in the August general election...

Vacant school board seat added to Aug. 5 ballot (05/25/10)
The vacant Sixth District school board seat will be included on the Aug. 5 general election ballot, Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette announced on Friday. Although the qualifying period for the other races on that ballot has already ended, a qualifying period for the school board seat is now open and will end June 11 at noon. Those who qualify have until noon June 14 to withdraw...

Certified election results announced (05/16/10)
Certified totals approved Monday night from the May 4 primary election differ by only one vote in each Democratic primary race from the totals announced election night. The only difference between the unofficial election night figures and the certified totals was the result of "provisional" votes. ...

Barry enters Democratic primary for House seat (05/06/10)
Henry Clay Barry of Lebanon has announced his candidacy for the Sixth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary. Barry has had his own legal practice in Lebanon for 31 years and has tried lawsuits in every county in the district except Bedford and Morgan counties. He describes himself as a "small-town country lawyer."...

Ray, Boyce, Davis, Smith win primary (05/05/10)
County Mayor Eugene Ray, Sheriff Randall Boyce and Circuit Court Clerk Thomas Smith fought off challengers Tuesday to win the Democratic primary for re-election to their respective offices, while Tonya Davis defeated Jason McGee for the open trustee seat. Because no candidates for those races ran in the Republican primary or qualified to run as independents in the general election, Ray, Boyce, Smith and Davis will be unopposed on the August general election ballot....

Election Day arrives, polls open until 7 p.m. (05/04/10)
Polls for today's party primary elections remain open until 7 p.m. at normal precinct locations throughout the county. There are competitive races in the Democratic primary for county mayor, sheriff, circuit court clerk and trustee. Incumbent County Clerk Kathy Prater and Register of Deeds Johnny Reed are all but guaranteed re-election, being the only candidates who filed to run for their positions...

Leming hits campaign trail at midnight (05/02/10)
Democratic congressional candidate Ben Leming of Murfreesboro, legally prohibited from campaigning until midnight Saturday morning, wasted no time crossing the Sixth District with a 15-county tour that hit Shelbyville at 1 a.m. Saturday. Leming visited the Huddle House on North Main Street...

House hopefuls address Democrats (04/30/10)
State Sen. Eric Stewart of Belvidere told Bedford County Democratic Party on Thursday that the party stands for "a hand up, not a hand out," but said Democrats make a priority of caring for "the least of these," as commanded in Matthew 25. "Folks, that's why I'm a Democrat," said Stewart, the keynote speaker at the annual party banquet, which was held at the American Legion hall on Kingree Road...

Early voting shows large increase (04/30/10)
A total of 3,157 Bedford County citizens participated in early voting for Tuesday's primary elections during the early voting period which ended on Thursday. "Four years ago, we had around 2,400 altogether, so that's a pretty considerable increase," said deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson this morning...

GOP hears House hopefuls, Ramsey (04/27/10)
Republicans running for the Sixth District U.S. House of Representatives seat were the keynote speakers at Bedford County Republican Party's annual banquet Saturday night at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. State Sen. Diane Black of Gallatin, Dave Evans of Wartrace, Gary Mann of Franklin, Kerry Roberts of Springfield, Jim Tracy of Shelbyville and Lou Ann Zelenik of Murfreesboro participated. ...

Hunt enters Democratic primary for state House (04/18/10)
Jenny Hunt of Bell Buckle has announced her candidacy for the 62nd District State Representative seat in the August 5 Democratic primary. A Bedford County resident since 1994, Hunt holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Auburn University, majoring in personnel management and industrial relations...

Early voting begins (04/15/10)
Early voting began Wednesday for the May 4 primary elections; it will continue through April 29 in the basement of the county courthouse. Hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays...

Crowd seeks U.S., state House seats (04/09/10)
No fewer than 19 people -- seven Republicans, seven Democrats and five independents -- have filed to succeed U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon in the Sixth District House seat. Gordon, a Democrat from Murfreesboro, is not seeking re-election. He is the longest-serving member of Tennessee's Congressional delegation...

City council looks toward election (04/06/10)
Shelbyville's city council will have only a few brief items to consider when they gather Thursday evening for their regular April meeting. November may not be on the minds of some, but the council will vote on a resolution to call for the election for mayor and council members from Wards 2, 4 and 6...

Hay announces candidacy for 6th District House seat (03/31/10)
Tommy N. Hay, a Shelbyville native now living in Smithville, has announced his candidacy as an independent for the 6th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Bart Gordon. As an independent, Hay will be on the ballot of the November general election...

Candidates square off at forum (03/31/10)
Candidates for county office gathered Tuesday night for a sparsely-attended forum sponsored by Bedford County Democratic Party. Incumbent County Mayor Eugene Ray and his challenger, former Shelbyville Mayor Henry Feldhaus, made their cases, and Feldhaus had a tense exchange with county commission member Joe Tillett...

Haslam says state must be run like a business (03/30/10)
Knoxville mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam brought his campaign to Shelbyville on Monday with a meet-and-greet at Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds which included an opportunity for Haslam and his wife Crissy to ride Tennessee walking horses...

Marine captain files as Democrat for Gordon seat (03/30/10)
NASHVILLE -- Marine Capt. Ben Leming of Murfreesboro has filed a petition to run as a Democrat for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Bart Gordon. Adviser Jeff Clark told The Associated Press on Monday that Leming, 34, got permission from the secretary of the Navy to file his candidacy, but can't actively campaign until his active duty ends May 1...

Gordon's change of vote draws heavy criticism (03/21/10)
As House Democrats approach an expected vote today on health care reform legislation, candidates to succeed U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon have been criticizing the bill and Gordon's last-minute decision to support it after having earlier opposed it. The measure seeks to extend coverage to 32 million uninsured people and the Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal would cost $940 billion over 10 years...

Stemper enters race for Circuit Court Clerk (03/10/10)
David Stemper has announced his candidacy for Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk in the May 4 Democratic primary. Stemper, a 13-year resident of Bedford County, is a 1988 graduate of Boonsboro (Md.) High School and a winner of the 1987 Science Olympiad. After graduation, he worked for the Food and Drug Administration until 1993...

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful visits Shelbyville square (03/03/10)
Gubernatorial candidate Kim McMillan brought her campaign to Shelbyville on Tuesday, stopping at the county courthouse and at a business on the square to meet and greet potential voters. McMillan, a Democrat from Clarksville, is a former state house majority leader and a former senior advisor to Gov. ...

Stacy enters primary for county sheriff (02/26/10)
Rod Stacy has announced his candidacy for Bedford County Sheriff in the May 4 Democratic primary. Stacy, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, is a 1988 graduate of Shelbyville Central High School and a member of its undefeated 1987 football team. After graduation, he served in the Tennessee Army National Guard. ...

Tune seeks re-election to commission seat (02/24/10)
Joyce Tune has announced her candidacy for re-election to a Seventh District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. Tune, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, is the widow of George Tune, who held the same county commission seat prior to his death. She operated Tune's Union 76 / U-Haul / Greyhound for 28 years and has worked for Musgrave Pencil Company for the past 19 years...

Ray seeks re-election to county mayor post (02/21/10)
Eugene Ray has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County mayor in the May 4 Democratic primary. Ray, a Bedford County native, was elected county mayor in 2006. He retained his position as chairman of the Bedford County Commission, and has served on the Commission for over 28 years. State law allows a county mayor to either chair or hold veto power over the county commission, but not both...

Marsh asks full term as state representative (02/21/10)
State Rep. Pat Marsh has announced his candidacy for re-election to his 62nd District state House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 5 Republican primary. Marsh was elected to the seat in a special election last year following the resignation of State Rep. Curt Cobb. Marsh serves on the House Commerce Committee and the House Transporation Committee...

Candidates qualify for county primary, general elections (02/19/10)
Noon Thursday was the deadline for local candidates to qualify for the May 4, 2010, party primary elections, and for independent candidates to qualify for the August general election. There will be competitive races in the Democratic primary for county mayor, sheriff, circuit court clerk and trustee. ...

Tracy announces manager, officials for U.S. House campaign (02/16/10)
State Sen. Jim Tracy has announced that Mike McCrady, who managed Pat Marsh's successful campaign for the state house last year, will serve as the manager for Tracy's campaign for the Sixth District U.S. House seat. "Mike has a great strategic mind and is an expert on grassroots campaigning. He was my first choice for the job," said Tracy in a news release. "I saw first-hand, during the Pat Marsh victory, how Mike works and I knew I wanted him on our team."...

Reed asks re-election as register of deeds (02/10/10)
Johnny Reed has announced his candidacy for re-election as Register of Deeds in the May 4, 2010, Democratic primary. The register and office staff record and preserve real estate titles, liens, contracts and other such transactions. Reed has served as register since September 2002. Prior to that, he worked in the grocery industry, including serving as market manager in the meat department at Bi-Lo...

Smith seeks re-election as Circuit Court Clerk (02/05/10)
Thomas A. Smith has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk in the May 4 Democratic primary. Smith's duties include serving as the clerk for Circuit Court, General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court for the county. He is a 1988 graduate of the County Officials' Certificate Training Program and a member of the Middle Tennessee Clerks' Association...

Boyce seeks re-election as sheriff (02/03/10)
Randall Boyce has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Sheriff in the May 4 Democratic primary. He was first elected sheriff in 2006. Boyce, a Bedford County native, lives in Wheel. He has two children and three grandchildren. He is a certified law enforcement officer with numerous in-service hours...

Feldhaus seeks county mayor position (01/27/10)
Henry Feldhaus III has announced his candidacy for Bedford County Mayor in the May 4 Democratic primary. Feldhaus, a former two-term Shelbyville mayor and a member of Shelbyville City Council for six years, is an entrepreneur who has established several businesses in Bedford County and currently assists his wife, Jenni, at Investor Services, a family-owned investment/brokerage company. He also operates an online business selling swimming pool products nationwide...

Prater seeks re-election as county clerk (01/10/10)
Kathy K. Prater has announced her candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Clerk in the May Democratic primary. The clerk's office is responsible for registering vehicles and distributing license tags, issuing marriage licenses, accepting passport and notary public applications and keeping minutes for Bedford County Board of Commissioners...

Davis enters race for county trustee (01/03/10)
Tonya Davis has announced her candidacy for Bedford County Trustee in the May 4 Democratic Primary. Davis, a Bedford County native, is a 1975 graduate of Central High School and a graduate of Murfressboro Barber College. Davis, an experienced business woman, has owned and operated her own business for over 30 years. She has the experience of running a business, including managing employees, state and federal tax preparation, various recordkeeping, bookkeeping and working with the public...

Tracy enters Congressional race as Gordon bows out (12/15/09)
Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville filed papers on Monday to seek the Sixth District U.S. House seat, on the same day that incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon revealed he will not seek re-election. "I am definitely running," Tracy told the Times-Gazette Monday afternoon...

Tracy confirms House run (12/14/09)
State Sen. Jim Tracy confirmed this afternoon that he is filing papers today to seek the Sixth District Congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon. Tracy had been looking into the race for weeks. His announcement came on the same day that Gordon announced he would not seek re-election...

Gordon won't seek re-election next year (12/14/09)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Bart Gordon, a 13-term congressman from Tennessee, announced Monday he will not seek re-election next year, the latest Democrat in a string of retirements. Gordon, 60, won re-election easily last year, garnering 74 percent of the vote, but was still on a list of Democrats targeted by Republicans in midterm elections....

McGee announces entry in county trustee race (12/03/09)
Jason McGee has announced his candidacy for Bedford County trustee in the May 4, 2010, Democratic primary. McGee, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, has been office administrator for Bedford County Highway Department / Bedford County Solid Waste Authority since 2000 and serves as secretary for Bedford County Road Board. Prior to joining the highway department, he worked in customer service for Jostens in Shelbyville...

McWherter pays campaign visit (11/22/09)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter, the son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, visited Shelbyville on Friday, saying his experience as a businessman makes him a good choice to manage the state. "I am a small businessman," he said. "Small business is the backbone of the economy of this state."...

Pat Marsh sworn in to state House (10/27/09)
Pat Marsh was sworn in Monday as 62nd District state representative and was appointed to the House commerce and transportation committees, giving the Republican party majorities on both. Marsh is a co-founder of Big G Express, a Shelbyville-based trucking company...

State Democratic leader undeterred by 62nd District loss (10/15/09)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Democratic House candidate Ty Cobb had an abundance of campaign cash, a coveted endorsement from a prominent anti-abortion rights organization and a family history that includes his father and brother perviously holding the seat he sought. He still lost by 15 percentage points...

Marsh wins 62nd District House seat (10/14/09)
Republican nominee Pat Marsh won the special election Tuesday to fill the vacant 62nd District seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Marsh, with an unofficial total of 4,931 votes district-wide (56 percent), defeated Democratic nominee Ty Cobb, with 3,663 votes (41 percent), and Constitution Party candidate Chris Brown, with 255 (3 percent). In Bedford County, it was Marsh with 3,215 votes to Cobb with 2,508 votes and Brown with 183....

Polls remain open until 7 p.m. in special election (10/13/09)
Polls remain open until 7 p.m. today at normal precinct locations for the special election to fill the 62nd District state House seat. The seat became vacant when Democratic incumbent Curt Cobb resigned June 30 to accept a position as Bedford County Clerk and Master. The district includes all of Bedford County, half of Lincoln County and the Eagleville area of Rutherford County...

2,638 vote early in county (10/11/09)
A total of 2,638 early and absentee votes were cast in Bedford County for the special election to fill the 62nd District state House seat, according to Adminstrator of Elections Summer Leverette. Early voting ended on Thursday. Election Day will be Tuesday. Election day polls will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday at all normal precinct locations...

House candidates can't agree on debate (10/09/09)
With less than a week to go before electing a new representative for the 62nd District, the three candidates have yet to meet in debate at the same time. Despite efforts from several sources, from Webb School to the Times-Gazette, no date was ever approved and agreed upon together by Chris Brown, running as an independent but with the Constitution Party's endorsement, Democrat Ty Cobb or Republican Pat Marsh. ...

Pledge becomes issue at Webb candidate forum (10/08/09)
Webb School's Town Hall meeting, a debate featuring two of the three candidates for the 62nd district seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives, almost became a debate featuring one of the candidates. Democratic candidate Ty Cobb was already a no-show, and when moderator Hannah Little introduced the candidates, Republican Pat Marsh first, then Chris Brown, Brown addressed the crowd...

WEB EXTRA: Early voting ends tomorrow (10/07/09)
Early voting in the 62nd District State House race ends on Thursday. Election day is Oct. 13. As of 10:30 this morning, 2,190 voters had cast early or absentee ballots, according to deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson. Two of the three candidates -- Republican nominee Pat Marsh and Chris Brown, endorsed by the Constitution Party -- participated in a candidate forum Tuesday night at The Webb School in Bell Buckle. ...

Zelenik enters Sixth District house race (10/07/09)
Lou Ann Zelenik announced on Monday she has filed the necessary documents with the Federal Election Commission to formally enter the race for Congress in Tennessee's Sixth District. Zelenik, a small business owner for more than 20 and current chairman of the Rutherford County Republican Party, will seek the party's nomination to oppose U.S. ...

Bredesen makes second visit on behalf of Cobb (10/06/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen made his second Shelbyville appearance on behalf of 62nd District state representative candidate Ty Cobb on Saturday, at a fish fry on Cobb's behalf. The apron-clad governor personally served fish to many of those in line, stepping away for a while in order to participate in public remarks...

State officials involved in 62nd District House race (10/02/09)
The special election race to fill the vacancy in the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat has attracted the attention and involvement of party officials at the state level. Democratic nominee Ty Cobb, Republican nominee Pat Marsh and Chris Brown, endorsed by the Constitution Party but listed on the ballot as an independent, are seeking the seat, which was made vacant when Ty Cobb's brother, Curt Cobb, resigned in late June. ...

Early voting running ahead of primary total (09/30/09)
Early voting in the Oct. 13 special election to fill the vacant 62nd District State House of Representatives seat got off to a strong start, according to deputy administrator of elections Andrew Robertson. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, 1,123 voters had already voted by early vote or by paper absentee ballot. ...

Early voting begins in special House election (09/23/09)
Early voting began today in the Oct. 13 special election to fill the vacant 62nd District State House of Representatives seat. Democratic nominee Ty Cobb II, Republican nominee Pat Marsh and Chris Brown, endorsed by the Constitution Party but listed on the ballot as an independent, are seeking the seat, which was made vacant when Ty Cobb II's brother Curt Cobb resigned in late June...

Corker visits city in support of Marsh (09/20/09)
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker visited Shelbyville Friday to appear at a rally for for Pat Marsh, the Republican nominee in the 62nd District state House of Representatives race. Corker, a former real estate developer, said Marsh's background as a trucking company entrepreneur was needed in state government...

Bredesen visits to bolster Cobb campaign (09/18/09)
More than a hundred people -- including Gov. Phil Bredesen -- showed up at the Fly Cultural Arts Center Thursday night to meet and hear from Ty Cobb, a candidate for state representative, Cobb is the brother of Curt Cobb, who held the seat until July when he resigned to take a court clerk position in Bedford County...

Debate fuss continues to churn (09/17/09)
The debate over the debate continues. Candidates in the special election to fill the vacant 62nd District state House of Representative seat continue to fling accusations over who is and isn't interested in a debate. The campaign of Republican candidate Pat Marsh issued a news release criticizing Democratic candidate Ty Cobb II for his campaign's initial response to the Times-Gazette that he didn't have time for a debate...

Brown schedules forum, wants place at debate (09/15/09)
Constitution Party candidate Chris Brown refuses to be ignored in the 62nd District state house race. Saying he has received no response from the Republican and Democratic candidates in the special election about being included in debates, Brown has announced that he will hold a question and answer forum Monday night from 6 to 7 p.m. at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center...

Marsh to Cobb: Let's talk issues (09/10/09)
Republican nominee Pat Marsh has challenged his Democratic opponent Ty Cobb II to a series of town hall debates prior to the Oct. 13 special election to fill the 62nd District state House seat. "I believe that the people of Bedford, Lincoln and Rutherford counties have a right to know where the candidates stand on the issues. ...

Possible Memphis vacancy complicates state House balance (09/09/09)
A state representative from Germantown, a suburb of Memphis, may resign from his 83rd District House seat in order to run for the state Senate, further complicating the balance of power within the House. Observers are already watching the race for the vacant 62nd District House seat representing all of Bedford and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties...

Commission to consider rezoning, Voter Confidence Act (09/08/09)
Bedford County Board of Commissioners will consider a rezoning for the proposed Dollar General Store in Deason and a resolution asking the state to delay implementing the Voter Confidence Act. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the second floor courtroom at the county courthouse...

Cobb loses out on campaign "buckets of cash" (09/01/09)
NASHVILLE -- Buckets of cash collected for Ty Cobb's campaign for vacated House District 62 during a major fundraising dinner put the Tennessee Democratic Party on the wrong side of state campaign finance regulations. Party officials decided to donate all the cash to charity after The Associated Press raised questions about their failure to gather the names of the people who put the money in the buckets...

Marsh wins GOP primary in state House race (08/28/09)
Pat Marsh of Shelbyville won Thursday's Republican primary for the vacant 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat. Unofficial vote totals have him drawing more votes than his three opponents combined. District-wide, Marsh drew 1,826 votes to Bobby Scott's 397, Casey Walters' 348 and Joseph Byrd's 48....

Polls open until 7 p.m. (08/27/09)

891 early votes cast in House primary (08/25/09)
A total of 891 early votes were cast for Thursday's special called primary election, leading to an October general election which will fill the vacant 62nd District seat in Tennessee House of Representatives. According to Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette, there were 718 early votes in the Republican primary, in which candidates Joseph Byrd, Pat Marsh, Bobby Scott and Casey Walters are competing, and 173 early votes in the Democratic primary, which has only one candidate, Ty Cobb II. ...

Debate over primary voting continues (08/20/09)
Tennessee 62nd District House candidate Casey Walters has continued to criticize opponent Pat Marsh for having voted in the Democratic primary 10 times over the years, saying that Marsh's explanation for having done so does not fit all of the occasions...

CORRECTED: House hopefuls square off at forum (08/20/09)
Five of the six candidates for the vacant 62nd District State House of Representatives seat faced each other in a candidate forum Tuesday night at Central High School, sponsored by the Bedford County Republican Women. Republican primary candidates Joseph Byrd, Pat Marsh, Bobby Scott and Casey Walters, and independent candidate Chris Brown, who identifies himself as a member of the Constitution Party, participated in the debate, while unopposed Democratic primary candidate Ty Cobb did not, citing a schedule conflict.. ...

Reminder: House debate is tonight (08/18/09)
Bedford County Republican Women will sponsor a debate among the candidates for the empty seat in the 62nd District state House of Representatives race tonight at 6 in the Shelbyville Central High School auditorium. All four Republican candidates and the lone independent candidate are scheduled to attend; the lone Democratic candidate declined, citing a schedule conflict...

Brown enters House race as independent (08/18/09)
Chris Brown has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District State House of Representatives in the Oct. 13 general election. Brown will be listed on the ballot as an independent but identifies himself as a member of the Constitution Party. "We have to run as an Independent because in Tennessee, ballot access for all political candidates who do not fall into the category of 'Republican' or 'Democrat' is difficult," stated Brown in a news release. ...

House foes to face off in forum (08/16/09)
All four Republican candidates -- Joseph C. Byrd, Pat Marsh, Bobby Scott and Casey Walters -- and the lone independent candidate -- Chris Brown -- in the special election process for the 62nd District State House seat have committed to attend Bedford County Republican Women's "Meet The Candidates" forum 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Central High School auditorium...

Candidate debate set (08/06/09)
Voters will have a chance to get to know the candidates for the empty seat in the 62nd District state House of Representatives race on Aug. 18, when a debate is scheduled. Bedford County Republican Women are sponsoring the debate to be held in the auditorium at Shelbyville Central High School starting at 6 p.m...

Byrd announces run for 62nd District seat (07/28/09)
Joseph C. Byrd of Unionville has announced his candidacy for 62nd District state House of Representatives, saying he believes "we need to see a return of statesmen to the political offices instead of having professional politicians." Byrd is one of four Republicans running in the special election to replace Curt Cobb, who resigned his seat in June to accept the position of Bedford County Clerk and Master, the court clerk for Chancery Court...

Cobb enters Democratic state House primary (07/26/09)
Ty Cobb, brother of former State Rep. Curt Cobb, officially announced his candidacy for 62nd District state House of Representatives seat on Friday, pledging "to work with all citizens to find commonsense solutions in Tennessee." Cobb is the only candidate in the Democratic primary, which came about after his brother Curt resigned his seat in June in order to accept the position of Bedford County Clerk and Master, the court clerk for Chancery Court...

Lieutenant Governor attends Evans fundraiser (07/21/09)
More than 50 supporters, including Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, showed up at the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace Sunday night for a fundraiser for congressional candidate David Evans of Wartrace. In March, Evans, a retired major general in the U.S. Army, announced his intentions to run against incumbent Bart Gordon for the sixth district house seat in 2010...

Walters joins race for state House seat (07/19/09)
Casey Walters of Fayetteville has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 27 Republican primary. Walters, a resident of Lincoln County since 1999, was raised in Memphis, where he worked as a deputy court clerk for the Criminal Court clerk's office in Shelby County...

No last-minute candidates in state House race (07/17/09)
Thursday was the deadline for candidates to file qualifying papers for the special called Aug. 27 primary and Oct. 13 general election to fill a vacancy in the 62nd District state House of Representatives seat representing all of Bedford, parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties...

Scott seeks 62nd District seat (07/16/09)
Bobby Scott of Shelbyville has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 27 Republican primary. "Together we can make a difference in this community." said Scott in a news release. "I want to make a stand for truth, not politics in both this election and in my service in the State House. ...

CORRECTED: GOP primary field expands for House seat; Brown to run as independent (07/14/09)
Casey Walters of Fayetteville and Joseph Byrd of Unionville have filed papers to run in the Republican primary for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat. Chris Brown of Shelbyville, after picking up qualifying papers for both party primaries and for the general election as an independent, has decided on the latter option, and will run as an independent...

Blanton will not seek state House seat (07/12/09)
Citing her husband's health, Barbara Blanton has announced that she will not seek the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat in the upcoming special election. Blanton, who made a strong but unsuccessful challenge to Democratic incumbent Curt Cobb as the Republican nominee for the seat in 2008, made the announcement on Saturday...

Marsh announces candidacy (07/10/09)
Pat Marsh has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District Tennessee House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 27 Republican primary. Marsh, a Lincoln County native and Bedford County resident, is founder and chairman of Big G Express, a family-owned trucking company...

Scott enters race; Brown picks up petitions (07/07/09)
At least one other Republican candidate has entered the special election for the 62nd District State House race created by the sudden resignation last week of Rep. Curt Cobb to take a position in the Bedford County court system. Bobby Scott informed the Times-Gazette in an e-mail Sunday that he intends to seek the seat as well. ...

Hopefuls mull run for state House seat (07/05/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen issued a writ of election Thursday to fill the vacancy in the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat created by the resignation this week of State Rep. Curt Cobb of Shelbyville. Party primaries for the seat will be held on Aug. 27, with the general election to be Oct. 13. Three potential candidates said Thursday they were considering this weekend whether to run, and one of them made that a definite "yes" by Saturday morning...

Special election dates set for state House seat (07/02/09)
Gov. Phil Bredesen has issued a writ of election to fill the vacancy in the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat created by the resignation this week of State Rep. Curt Cobb of Shelbyville. Party primaries for the seat will be held on Aug. 27, with the general election to be Oct. 13...

Another 'tea party' scheduled Saturday at park (07/01/09)
A local group that is "tead-off" about the current state of their government will be holding another "tea party" event this Saturday. The event will be held from 7-8 p.m. at H.V. Griffin Park and is being organized by the same group of citizens who put together the previous "tea party" event earlier this year...

UPDATED: Cobb resigns to take Chancery Court post (07/01/09)
State Rep. Curt Cobb has been named Bedford County Clerk and Master by 17th Judicial District Chancellor J.B. Cox and has resigned from his House seat. Cobb began his new position today; he said this morning that he submitted his letter of resignation from the General Assembly on Tuesday...

Mudslinging starts way too early (03/19/09)
How do you decide for whom to vote? There were web sites operating a year ago at this time at which you could take a quiz about your opinions on the top issues of the day, click a button, and find out which presidential primary candidate most closely matched your views...

Evans announces for Congressional seat (03/06/09)
Bedford County Republican Party Chairman Dave Evans, of Wartrace, has formally announced his candidacy for the Sixth District U.S. House seat in 2010. Evans, who was raised in Putnam County, announced his candidacy for Congress in a speech Tuesday night to the Putnam County Republican Party in Cookeville, according to a news release...

Smith, Wamp stress GOP values (02/23/09)
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp and Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith rallied the GOP faithful Saturday night as the guest speakers for the annual Bedford County Republican Party dinner. --- . ...

New voting machines required by state law (01/04/09)
The "Tennessee Voter Confidence Act," which took effect Thursday, requires new voting machines that will create a paper trail for use in recounts or random spot checks. Any new voting machines purchased after Jan. 1 must be in compliance, and all machines must be in compliance by the November 2010 general election...

Local Obama backers feel emotion of victory (11/05/08)
As Americans wept, danced and cheered at celebrations across the country, local supporters of Barack Obama mirrored those sentiments at victory parties Tuesday night in Bedford County. Donna Phillips, a supporter of President-elect Obama, attended an Obama Victory Party at The Fly, and she says the moment he was declared winner was mesmerizing...

Tracy, Cobb retain state legislative seats (11/05/08)
Both of Bedford County's incumbent state legislators were re-elected Tuesday night, receiving support both locally and district-wide. State Sen. Jim Tracy, a Republican from Shelbyville, defeated Democratic challenger Jean Anne Rogers of Murfreesboro by a margin of 48,064 to 31,727 to retain his 16th district seat representing Bedford and Moore counties and part of Rutherford County. Tracy carried all three of the counties...

It's ladies first in city election (11/05/08)
Two Shelbyville city council incumbents retained their seats Tuesday while another was defeated by a previous member of that body. According to unofficial results, Ward 5 Councilman Randy Vernon was unseated by Jean Pruitt, who had previously served on the city council, by a vote of 349 to 198...

Brothers elected to late husband's commission seat (11/05/08)
"I feel like I'm finishing what he wanted us to finish," said Janice Brothers late Tuesday night, after the results of her race for the two-year unexpired term for County Commissioner District 3. The special election was to replace the former holder of that district seat -- her husband, Roger Brothers -- who passed away in July after holding that seat for more than 30 years...

Claxton in, Floyd out in Wartrace (11/05/08)
There will soon be a new face at the meetings of the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Alderman, and one who has served for decades will be missing. Scott Claxton, a postal carrier in Wartrace as well as a newspaper carrier for the Times-Gazette, not only won a seat on the board, he took the most votes on his very first venture into political waters...

UPDATED: Local voters choose McCain, Alexander, Gordon, Tracy, Cobb (11/04/08)
Bedford County's voters have supported Republican candidate John McCain for president, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, incumbent Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy and incumbent Democratic State Rep. Curt Cobb.

Fresh voices: Students appreciate right to vote (11/03/08)
Four Central High School seniors, all 18, won't be going to the polls Tuesday morning. That's because Josh Wade, Breeann Allen, Daniel Brown and Karen Hix decided to partake in early voting. "I registered to vote at Bonnaroo this year," said Josh, who cast his vote recently for Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama. "I decided to vote early because it seemed a lot easier."...

Wait's nearly over: Election is Tuesday (11/03/08)
After months of campaigning, polls, TV commercials, debates, interviews, predictions and even sketch comedy appearances, the 2008 presidential election is finally here. Polls will be open locally from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday at precinct locations throughout the county. The local start time of 9 a.m. differs from the start time in Nashville and its surrounding counties, which is sometimes announced by Nashville media as if it were a universal standard...

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