Shelbyville Times-Gazette: News : Elections

Elections

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...

Early voting record set in county (10/31/08)
Bedford County smashed its previous record early voting turnout by almost 50 percent, with 8,464 votes cast during the early voting period that ended Thursday, according to Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette. The previous record was 5,709, set during the last presidential election in 2004. This year's new record represents more than a 48 percent increase...

Commission District 3 hopefuls address issues (10/31/08)
One county commission seat appears on the general election ballot: a seat representing District 3, to fill the vacancy created by the death earlier this year of Commissioner Roger Brothers. Brothers' widow Janice was appointed to fill the seat on an interim basis until the next general election; now, she and former commission member Gale Barber are competing to finish Roger Brothers' term...

Shelbyville council candidates answer questions (10/29/08)
Candidates for Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 4 general election were asked to answer a standard set of questions, with a 100-word limit on each response. Participants were: Jo Ann Holland, Ward 1, incumbent Bobby Lee Parker Sr., Ward 1...

Wartrace candidates answer questionnaire (10/29/08)
The Times-Gazette asked the five candidates for Wartrace's three open alderman seats the same three questions. Participants were: Thomas Claxton Roston Floyd, incumbent Jean Gallagher, incumbent Thomas Hurt, incumbent...

Large turnout for early voting (10/26/08)
As of 11 a.m. Friday, with nearly a week remaining in the early voting period, 4,516 Bedford County citizens had voted in the November presidential election. "It's heavy," said Bedford County Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette. By comparison, the total voter turnout -- early plus election day -- was 13,622 in the 2004 presidential election and 13,144 in 2000. The county's record total early voting turnout was 5,709 in 2004...

State legislative candidates speak out (10/22/08)
The Times-Gazette invited the candidates for the two state legislative seats representing Bedford County to answer an identical list of questions about state issues. Candidates were allowed 200 words for their answer to the first question, since it was more open-ended, and 100 words for their answer to each of the subsequent questions...

Possible record turnout in early voting (10/16/08)
Wednesday morning saw the first day of early voting in Bedford County, and it saw something else as well -- what may be a record turnout. "It's been steady like this since 8 a.m.," said Brandy Cook, the election commission's deputy administrator, as people drifted into the basement of the Bedford County Courthouse two or three at a time to vote. "As of 10:40 a.m., we had 209 people."...

All eyes on presidential debate (10/08/08)
Barack Obama and John McCain clashed repeatedly over the causes and cures for the worst economic crisis in 80 years Tuesday night in a Nashville debate in which Republican McCain called for sweeping action by the government to directly shield many homeowners from mortgage foreclosure...

Parker seeks city council seat (10/03/08)
Bobby L. Parker Sr. has announced his candidacy for a First Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 4 general election. Parker is a lifelong resident of Bedford County and a retired brick mason. He is a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local No. 5. He has been in construction for 45 years and ran his own business for 25 years...

Vernon announces race for City Council (10/02/08)
Randy Vernon has announced his candidacy for re-election to his Fifth Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 4 general election. Vernon, a native of Huntsville, Ala., has lived in Shelbyville for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and is employed as executive vice president of Big G Express in Shelbyville. He is married to the former Kim Blanton and has two daughters...

Holland seeks re-election to city council (09/19/08)
Jo Ann Holland has announced her candidacy for re-election to the First Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 4 general election. Holland, a Bedford County native, is a graduate of Community High School. She was married to the late Robert L. Holland Jr. and has a daughter and three grandchildren...

Brothers seeks commission seat (09/16/08)
Janice Brothers has announced her candidacy for a Third District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Nov. 4 election. Brothers is the wife of the late Roger Brothers, who served as a commissioner for 30 years until his death in July. She was appointed by Bedford County Board of Commissioners to serve until the next general election and is now seeking election to the post...

Political parties open campaign headquarters (09/08/08)
Both major political parties are opening Bedford County campaign headquarters in preparation for November's elections. Party headquarters serve as a central point for distributing literature, signs, bumper stickers and other campaign materials. Locally, since they are only needed for a few weeks leading up to a major general election, they tend to be located in temporary space -- a vacant or under-used building that the party can obtain on a temporary basis...

Pruitt seeks 5th ward City Council seat (08/25/08)
Jean Pruitt has announced her candidacy for the Fifth Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 4 general election. Pruitt, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, is a previous member of the council. She is retired from Nationwide Express and is a past president of Shelbyville Kiwanis Club...

Bredesen visits show before Obama tour (08/22/08)
Gov. Phil Bredesen said he would be campaigning for Barack Obama in Ohio this week. At the Futurity Wednesday night, Bredesen made an earlier-than-usual appearance at the horse show because he'll be out stumping for Obama, then heading on to the Democratic National Convention, which means he won't be available during the Celebration. Traditionally, the governor awards the floral horse show or trophy at the World Grand Championship on the last Saturday night of the show...

Clerk says she was unaware of election law change (08/21/08)
Bedford County's clerk said a change in state election law resulted in a long standing practice in her office becoming illegal without her knowledge. County Clerk Kathy Prater told the T-G this week she was unaware that allowing candidates -- including one of her own employees -- to leave business cards in the office's public area was illegal until she was informed by Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette the day before the Aug. 7 election...

Graham announces bid for Council seat (08/14/08)
Chad D. Graham has announced his candidacy for a Third Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the Nov. 4 general election. Graham, who has been director of Bedford County Emergency Medical Services for 11 years, has been a Bedford County employee since 1990, having served at BCEMS as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, safety officer, and captain before being named director...

Blanton victory official, state says (08/10/08)
Barbara Blanton's win in the Republican Primary for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 62 has been confirmed by updated, though unofficial, state results. Blanton received nearly 61 percent of the vote in the district, with a total of 1,186. Chris T. Brown took 13 percent of the vote, with 255; while Frederick "Danny" Lowe III took 26 percent of the vote, with 512...

UPDATED: Rogers, Parker, Blanton win (08/08/08)
Jean Anne Rogers will be the Democratic challenger to State Sen. Jim Tracy, and incumbent Dixie Parker kept her first district school board seat in Thursday's elections. In the Republican primary for the 62nd District State Representative race, The Associated Press had reported that Barbara Blanton won handily, with 1,172 votes to 512 for Frederick "Danny" Lowe and 255 for Chris Brown and all precincts reporting. ...

Unofficial Bedford County primary results (08/07/08)
These results do not include paper ballots. Primary election results, in PDF format General election results, in PDF format...

BREAKING NEWS: Parker retains School Board seat (08/07/08)
Incumbent Dixie Parker has retained her seat on Bedford County Board of Education, defeating challenger Robert Allison in the only contested local race in Thursday's general election. Parker drew 398 votes to Allison's 213 in election machine totals, with only paper ballot totals yet to be announced...

Legislative candidates licking their chops (08/06/08)
State legislative candidates will be among those on the ballot for Thursday's primary election. The incumbent candidates -- Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy and Democratic State Rep. Curt Cobb, both of Shelbyville -- will be unopposed in their respective party primaries. But each has potential challengers competing for the chance to appear on the November ballot...

Edmondson offers 'option' to Gordon (08/04/08)
Steve Edmondson, who ran for Congress as an independent in 1992 and as a Republican in 1996, got on the state's election web site this year to see which Republican candidates had qualified to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Bart Gordon. He found that no one was running in the Republican primary. (There is one independent candidate, Chris Baker, who will be on the ballot for the November general election.)...

Eaton feels positive as primary nears (08/04/08)
Kenneth Eaton, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Lamar Alexander, said in a telephone interview last Thursday with the Times-Gazette that he feels good about his chances in Thursday's Democratic primary. Eaton will face former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett and former Tennessee Democratic Party chair Bob Tuke, along with lesser-known candidates Mark E. Clayton, Gary G. Davis and Leonard D. Ladner. Eaton referred to his "two opponents" during the interview...

Early voting still slow, but numbers increase (07/31/08)
Early voting for the Aug. 7 primary and general elections has picked up somewhat since the slow start reported last week. "It's still not wonderful," said Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette, "but it has picked up." Early voting continues through Saturday in the basement of the county courthouse. Hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday...

Tracy wields heftiest budget (07/27/08)
The incumbent candidates for the state legislative seats representing Bedford County are unopposed in their party primaries, and can look ahead to the general election in November. The challengers in both seats must first get through the primary election next month...

Early voting off to slow start (07/24/08)
Bedford County Director of Elections Summer Leverette said early voting for the Aug. 7 elections has been "very slow" since beginning on Friday. Only 103 early votes had been received as of midday Tuesday, and that includes absentee ballots sent in by mail, said Leverette...

Early voting for Aug. 7 election starts Friday (07/17/08)
Friday is the first day for early voting for the Aug. 7 election in Bedford County, not only for local offices but for state primaries. Registered voters can cast their ballots until Aug. 2 at the elections office in the basement of the courthouse, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday...

Tracy announces bid for Senate seat (07/03/08)
Jim Tracy has announced his candidacy for re-election to the 16th District State Senate seat in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. The district consists of all of Bedford and Moore Counties and most of Rutherford County. In the State Senate, Tracy is the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and serves on other committees, including the Education Committee, the State and Local Government Committee, the Commission on Aging and Disability, and the Long Term Care Advisory Council...

Lowe announces for House primary race (07/02/08)
Danny Lowe, of Fayetteville, has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Lowe will be a candidate in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. Lowe has been a teacher and coach at Lincoln County High School, of which he is a graduate, for 10 years. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on a full athletic scholarship and earned academic honors as well...

Early voting to begin July 18 (07/01/08)
Early voting for the Aug. 7 primary and general elections will take place July 18 through Aug. 2, according to the county election office. July 8 is the last date to register to vote in this election. Early voting takes place in the basement of the county courthouse. Hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday...

Butler seeks state Senate seat (06/30/08)
Dee Butler, of Murfreesboro, has announced her candidacy for the 16th District State Senate seat in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. Butler, a native of Rutherford County, was raised on a family farm designated as a "Century Farm" by the state for 100 years of family operation. She attended Murfreesboro city and Rutherford County schools and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she majored in political science...

Rogers announces state Senate bid (06/26/08)
Murfreesboro optometrist Jean Anne Rogers has announced her candidacy for the 16th District State Senate seat. Rogers will be a candidate in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. The district includes all of Moore and Bedford counties and portions of Rutherford County...

Rose a candidate for Shelbyville council (06/12/08)
Kay Rose has announced her candidacy for the Shelbyville City Council's third ward. Rose was appointed to the council in June 2007, filling the vacancy left by Wallace Cartwright when he was elected Shelbyville mayor. "My year on the city council has given me to opportunity to learn more about how our city operates, and I'm still learning," Rose said. ...

Governor signs voting record law (06/09/08)
Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed into law a measure to require a paper record for voters' ballots in Tennessee. It's not clear yet what financial effect the measure will have on Bedford County, said Bedford County Supervisor of Elections Summer Leverette...

Obama mends fences, prepares for November (06/04/08)
The Democratic presidential nomination his, Barack Obama reached out today to mend fences with his defeated rival as Republican opponent John McCain tried to frame the fall campaign on his own terms. "I think he has exercised very bad judgment on national security issues and others," McCain said...

AP tally says Obama has clinched nomination (06/03/08)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, based on an Associated Press tally of convention delegates, becoming the first black candidate ever to lead his party into a fall campaign for the White House...

Clinton will concede delegate total tonight (06/03/08)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede Tuesday night that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president. Obama is 37.5 delegates shy of clinching the nomination, but he is widely expected to make up the difference Tuesday with superdelegate support and votes in South Dakota and Montana....

Senate candidate proposes energy ideas (06/03/08)
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Padgett, during a visit to Shelbyville on Monday, said that sugar cane and nuclear power could be two pieces to solving the nation's energy-crisis puzzle. In an interview at the Times-Gazette offices, Padgett also said employers who hire illegal aliens need to be prosecuted and fined more aggressively...

Clinton mounts last-ditch effort (06/02/08)
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- As Barack Obama turns to concentrate on his general election challenge, his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton is mounting a last ditch campaign to stay relevant in what is left of the Democratic presidential contest. The former first lady enters this week with an insurgent strategy not only to win over undecided superdelegates but to peel away Obama's support from those party leaders and elected officials who already have committed to back him for the nomination...

Election administrator skeptical about bill (05/14/08)
A proposal that would require a paper record for voters' ballots in Tennessee has passed the state House, but Bedford County election administrator Summer Leverette is skeptical. The measure sponsored by Rep. Gary Moore, a Joelton Democrat, was approved 88-6 on Tuesday. The companion bill, sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville, is scheduled for a full Senate vote on Thursday...

Tracy faces Democratic challenge (05/09/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) faces a challenge from either Dee Butler or Jean Anne Rogers, both Democrats from Murfreesboro, this November, depending on the outcome of the Aug. 6 Democratic primary. Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey, a Republican, told Republicans in Marshall County last Saturday that the Democratic Party plans to target Tracy and urged them to contribute to his campaign...

Ramsey agrees with Obama on gas tax holiday (05/08/08)
LEWISBURG -- One is Tennessee's first Republican lieutenant governor in 140 years, and the other is the Democratic senator from Chicago who's running for president. But they share at least one thing in common. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) was in Lewisburg on Saturday for the annual Marshall County Republican Party dinner. Barack Obama was campaigning elsewhere...

Primary struggle drags on (05/07/08)
Politically wounded and financially strapped, Hillary Rodham Clinton plunged back into the presidential campaign today even as Barack Obama declared that Tuesday's primary results left him with a "clear path to victory." Obama beat Clinton soundly in North Carolina and fell just short in an Indiana cliffhanger, a rebound for the Illinois senator that presented Clinton with fast-dwindling chances to deny him the Democratic presidential nomination...

Blanton announces for state house seat (04/30/08)
Barbara Blanton has announced her candidacy for State Representative for House District 62 in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. Blanton, president of Rotary Club of Shelbyville, served for four years as chairman of Bedford County Republican Party and four years as vice-chairman. She currently serves as State Senatorial District 16 committee woman for the state party and as secretary of the Bedford County Republican Women...

Blackburn rallies local GOP (04/21/08)
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn stressed energy, the economy and national security during a speech Saturday night at the annual Bedford County Republican Party banquet. The banquet was held at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. Blackburn said the party's losses in 2006 were the result of a loss of focus on key messages...

VIDEO: Blackburn addresses local GOP (04/21/08)
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn spoke about energy, the economy and Iraq during the Bedford County Republican Party banquet Saturday night at the Blue Ribbon Circle: ...

VIDEO: State Democratic chair speaks here (04/16/08)
Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Gray Sasser was the speaker at Tuesday night's Bedford County Democratic Party banquet. ...

Allison seeks School Board seat (04/16/08)
Robert A. Allison, 37, has announced that he is a candidate for a first district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the August general election. Allison grew up on a farm near Bell Buckle. After attending Cascade Elementary School from 1976 until 1983, he graduated from The Webb School in 1989, the University of Virginia in 1992 and Georgetown University Law School in 1997...

Sasser claims party will unite behind nominee (04/16/08)
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser told local Democrats Tuesday night that the party will unite to support its presidential nominee, whether that nominee is Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. "We are united as a party," said Sasser, the keynote speaker for Bedford County Democratic Party's annual banquet. "We might disagree right now about who our nominee is, but we are united as a party in what we want to do."...

Parker seeks re-election (04/09/08)
Dixie Parker has announced that she will run for re-election to the Bedford County School Board in District 1. Parker, a Bedford County native, has lived in Bell Buckle all her life. 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...

Party chair will speak at Democratic banquet (04/07/08)
Gray Sasser, chairman of Tennessee Democratic Party and son of former U.S. senator and U.S. ambassador to China Jim Sasser, will be keynote speaker for the Bedford County Democratic Party Banquet, 6:30 p.m. April 15 at the American Legion hall in Shelbyville...

Blackburn to speak at GOP dinner (04/01/08)
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn will be the guest speaker for Bedford County Republican Party's annual dinner, to be held April 19 at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds. Registration will begin at 6:30 with the dinner at 7. Blackburn will be introduced by State Sen. Jim Tracy, and there will also be a salute to veterans in attendance. A U.S. Marine Corps color guard will present the flag...

Candidates offer their views on the economy (03/31/08)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain have diagnosed the swooning U.S. economy and have come up with rival plans to revive it. If the downturn lasts as long as some economists predict, one of the three will get a chance to try to sell his or her proposal to Congress as president...

VP could be the key (03/29/08)
Here's a bit of rambling to wrangle your reading. Remember the line about the vice presidency not being worth a bucket of warm spit? It's from John Nance Garner, who was FDR's vice president -- twice. Garner's observation comes to mind as the GOP has a presumptive nominee for president and the Dems are still slugging it out...

House, Senate hopefuls file for primaries (03/18/08)
Several petitions have been turned in to Bedford County Election Commission for the State Senate and House seats up for election this year. Party primaries will be held in August with the general election in November. Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy has turned in his petition to run for re-election, and Murfreesboro Democrat Dee Butler has also filed for the 16th District seat, according to Election Commission officials...

Web poll voters don't like celebrity endorsements (03/10/08)
Readers of the Times-Gazette web site who participated in an un-scientific poll are not particularly impressed by celebrities who endorse political candidates, and 20 percent even say such endorsements can cause them to resent a candidate. This year's notable celebrity endorsements have included Jack Nicholson preparing a tongue-in-cheek video promoting Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey endorsing Barack Obama and Chuck Norris appearing with Mike Huckabee on the campaign trail. ...

Chris Brown seeks state House seat (02/20/08)
Chris Brown has announced his candidacy for the 62nd District state representative seat in the Aug. 7 Republican primary. Brown, a Bedford County native, is a self-employed owner-operator truck driver leased to Nationwide Express in Shelbyville and holds a paralegal degree. He has worked with attorneys and private investigators in the past...

Clinton, Huckabee carry Bedford (02/06/08)
Sen. Hillary Clinton, in the Democratic presidential primary, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, in the Republican primary, carried Bedford County in Tuesday's elections, echoing statewide results....

Polls open until 7 p.m. (02/05/08)

More than 1,800 early vote in primary (02/02/08)
A total of 1,804 people participated in the early vote period for Tuesday's primary elections, including 1,680 in person at the courthouse and another 124 who voted by mail or at nursing homes, according to Bedford County election administrator Summer Leverette...

Party leaders ponder primary choices (02/02/08)
Who will win? That's the question on the minds of many political watchers as the slate of presidential primaries set for Tuesday draws near. According to Connie Crafton, chair of Bedford County Democratic Party, the political scene in Tennessee and the county has been quiet. She has attended several events where representatives of the two frontrunners of her party were pushing their candidates...

Democrats to convene Feb. 9 (01/29/08)
Bedford County Democratic Party will hold a county convention Feb. 9 at noon in the second floor courtroom of the Bedford County Courthouse. The convention is the first step in a two-step process for selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention. At the meeting, party members will elect delegates to attend the Congressional District Conventions on Feb. 23...

Tracy 'disappointed' at Thompson withdrawal (01/23/08)
State Sen. Jim Tracy said on Tuesday that he's disappointed at the withdrawal of Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson from the presidential race. "I think his message was beginning to sink in," said Tracy, who had hailed Thompson's entry in the race last May and who campaigned for Thompson in Iowa...

Early voting off to a slow start (01/23/08)
The first week of early voting for the Feb. 5 party primaries has gone slowly, according to election administrator Summer Leverette. "It's very slow," she said. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, only 336 voters had voted in person, with another 53 voting by mail...

Early voting begins Wednesday (01/12/08)

Legislature prepares for new session (01/07/08)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- The General Assembly returns to session Tuesday with a few fresh issues and several leftovers from last year on lawmakers' plates. They can count on it being warmed up by the heat of election year politics. Political maneuvering and hot-button issues are almost certain, not least because tight budget projections mean lawmakers likely won't be distracted by spending any windfalls...

Two local candidates run unopposed (01/05/08)
Two people are running unopposed in next month's Democratic County Primary, which will include the primary for president as well. Stanley Smotherman is running unopposed for the office of Highway Superintendent and Rhonda Clanton faces no challengers for the seat of property assessor...

Obama, Huckabee are frontrunners for now (01/04/08)
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire is where Iowa's Democratic caucus victors get ratified and where its Republican winners get stung. Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee headed into the Granite State today as Iowa's presidential champions, one hoping to ride history's trend and the other eager to break it...

Poll participants do consider candidate's religion (12/18/07)
A majority of participants in a non-scientific Times-Gazette web site poll say they do consider a candidate's religious faith when deciding for whom to vote. The 2008 presidential campaign has touched on the issue in several ways. Republican candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and observers have wondered whether religious conservatives who agree with him on many political issues might fail to support him because of theological differences. ...

Election schedule starts early in 2008 (12/10/07)
Because of Tennessee's desire to have an impact on the presidential nomination process, its presidential primary will be held Feb. 5. But as the presidential primary moves earlier, it takes the party primaries for local county-wide offices with it, meaning the primary for local offices will be six months before the general election and seven months before candidates take office. ...

Clanton seeks re-election (11/23/07)
Ronda Helton Clanton of Shelbyville has announced her candidacy for re-election as Assessor of Property beginning with the Feb. 5, 2008, Democratic primary. Clanton, a graduate of Cascade High School, has lived in Bedford County for the past 33 years. She was a teaching assistant at Cascade School for seven years and also worked in the credit department of Bedford County Medical Center. She is married to Randy Clanton. They have four children: Ryan and Randy Helton and Casey and Drew Clanton...

Road superintendent seeks re-election (10/31/07)
Stanley Smotherman has announced his candidacy for re-election as Bedford County Road Superintendent as a candidate in the Feb. 5, 2008, Democratic primary. A Bedford County native, Smotherman is a 29-year employee of Bedford County Highway Department and has served as superintendent since 2000. He is vice-president of Tennessee County Highway Officials Association...

Thompson announcement pleases local GOP women (09/06/07)
"We are very excited that Fred Thompson is going to run for President," said Bedford County Republican Women's Club (BCWRC) President Gail Binion upon the announcement last night by Thompson, throwing his hat into the political arena for the bid of President of the United States...

Leverette selected as election administrator (08/16/07)
Deputy Administrator of Elections Summer Leverette was chosen Wednesday by Bedford County Election Commission to succeed Administrator of Elections Anna Clanton when Clanton retires at the end of September. Leverette is a seven-year employee of the county election office...

Clanton to retire from election post (08/14/07)
Bedford County Election Registrar Anna Clanton has decided to retire effective Sept. 30, after 27 1/2 years in office. Bedford County Election Commission discussed the vacancy last week and will meet again 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at the courthouse to discuss filling the position...

Cartwright wins mayor's race over incumbent (06/07/07)
Wallace Cartwright defeated incumbent Mayor Geneva Smith yesterday by a margin of 1,142 to 632 in City of Shelbyville elections, according to unofficial totals. Jerry Robinson was a distant third with 143 votes. All vote totals are unofficial until certified by Bedford County Election Commission, which is scheduled to meet 5 p.m. Tuesday at the election office....

Candidates talk metro at forum (06/05/07)
Candidates and their family members outnumbered the audience at a meeting Monday evening of Bedford County Democratic Club which had been billed as a city candidate forum. The forum, while poorly-attended, brought up one issue which had not yet been heavily discussed in the campaign: metropolitan government...

Polls open 9 a.m. Thursday (06/04/07)
Polls will be open 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday for the Shelbyville city election, with the mayor's race and three of the six City Council seats up for election. Early voting for the election wrapped up on Saturday. There were a total of 819 early voters, including paper ballots which have been received by the election office...

Early voting slow for city election (05/31/07)
Only 560 Shelbyville residents have early voted for the June 7 city election, which could be an early indicator of low turnout on Election Day. Saturday is the last day for early voting. "It's been slow," said Summer Leverette of the county election office. "It's a city election, and it's always pretty slow."...

Tracy welcomes Thompson presidential run (05/31/07)
State Sen. Jim Tracy, the county's highest-ranking Republican, said Wednesday night he welcomes signs that former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is about to enter the presidential fray. Thompson, whose possible candidacy has been a topic of speculation for months, revealed plans this week to form an exploratory committee, the first step towards a presidential campaign. He has also announced that he is leaving his role on the TV drama "Law & Order."...

Candidate Q&A: Fred Harrison (05/25/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? Education: bachelor's degree in business administration, one year graduate work in administrative education. Served 16 years as a county commissoion member and one term on the council....

Candidate Q&A: Jamie Williams (05/24/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking?
Between running a business for several years, my education, and working as a church treasurer, I have developed many skills which make me the best candidate for the Fourth Ward city council position....

Candidate Q&A: June Taylor (05/24/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking?
I have worked 25-plus years listening to both sides of the issue and determining the fairness for each party involved....

Candidate Q&A: Lee Roy Cunningham (05/24/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking?
I have the experience to do this job. I have served as a city councilman years ago. My background in business, running my own business for over 40 years, gives me a plus. I think you will agree that city government is a big business with a $16 million budget.....

Meet the Candidates: Fourth Ward (05/24/07)
The Times-Gazette's series on candidates in the June 7 city election continues today with the candidates for the Fourth Ward city council seat: Lee Roy Cunningham, June Taylor and Jamie Williams. Candidates must live in the ward they seek to represent, but all voters are eligible to vote in all council races, regardless of ward. There has been some discussion of changing that system for future elections...

Meet the Candidates -- Second Ward (05/23/07)
The Times-Gazette's series on candidates in the June 7 city election continues today with the candidates for the Second Ward city council seat: Jimmy Darden, former mayor Al Stephenson and incumbent Leonard Travis. Candidates must live in the ward they seek to represent, but all voters are eligible to vote in all council races, regardless of ward. There has been some discussion of changing that system for future elections...

Candidate Q&A: Jimmy Darden (05/23/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? My experience in coaching and management and my personality make me the best person for the office I am seeking...

Candidate Q&A: Al Stephenson (05/23/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? My term of four years as mayor of the City of Shelbyville gives me knowledge of working with the City Council and also state and county government. I've operated businesses in Shelbyville for approximately 25 years. I have an outgoing personality and the ability to listen to citizens' problems and concerns...

Candidate Q&A: Leonard Travis (05/23/07)
1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? My experience consists of being a Shelbyville resident for over forty years and serving the public while employed with Purity Dairy Milk Company. ...

Meet the candidates (05/22/07)
Today, the Times-Gazette begins a multi-part series in which we ask candidates in the June 7 city election to comment on their own qualifications and on recent issues facing the city. Today's installment focuses on the mayoral candidates -- Wallace Cartwright, Jerry Robinson and incumbent Geneva Smith...

Candidate Q&A: Wallace Cartwright (05/22/07)
Wallace Cartwright, candidate for mayor 1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? I've been serving on the City Council for the past ten years and I have always been interested in what goes on in the city as well as in the county...

Candidate Q&A: Jerry Robinson (05/22/07)
Jerry Robinson, candidate for mayor 1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? I am the only candidate for mayor that is college-educated in political science and public administration: I hold a BA with majors in Political Science and Economics, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (Go Vols!). ...

Candidate Q&A: Geneva Smith (05/22/07)
Geneva Smith, candidate for mayor 1) What about your experience, background or personality makes you the best person for the office you are seeking? For the past eight years, I have worked hard with the local Economic Development and Tourism office, the South Central Tennessee Development District, the State Department of Economic and Community Development and Tennessee Department of Transportation to bring new industry and projects to Shelbyville. ...

Harrison seeks re-election (05/21/07)
Fred Harrison has announced his candidacy for re-election to a sixth ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 general election. Harrison has been a state auditor and a teacher and runs a bookkeeping and income tax service. He served 12 years on Bedford County Board of Commissioners and its budget and finance committee, including about six years as chair of that committee...

Candidates agree not to campaign at polls (05/15/07)
Candidates in the June 7 city election have apparently made a "gentleman's agreement" not to station campaign workers at the polls that day, according to Election Registrar Anna Clanton, who witnessed the discussion but said the agreement is completely informal and has no official status with her office or the election commission...

Council to consider voting by ward (05/03/07)
The issue of Shelbyville returning to voting for aldermen by wards instead of "at large" in coming years will once again be before the city council. The suggestion to go to single member districts was made last month by Councilman Wallace Cartwright. Mayor Geneva Smith pointed out that the council had voted against the idea of voting by wards several years ago...

Senator defends PAC transfers (04/18/07)
A State Senate committee voted on Tuesday to kill a bill which would keep one political action committee (PAC) from transferring money to another. State Sen. Jim Tracy says the practice hasn't been abused and that the Democrats who are protesting the system now didn't do so when their party was in power...

Lieutenant governor supports Tracy plan (04/16/07)
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey told the Times-Gazette during a visit to Shelbyville on Saturday that he supports state Sen. Jim Tracy's bill which would designate $100 million in excess lottery funds to help local school systems with their capital projects...

City defers action on voting change (04/13/07)
Shelbyville's city council voted to defer a resolution that would change voting for aldermen by wards instead of "at large" on Thursday. Councilmen Randy Vernon asked for it to be discussed at next month's meeting because the matter was brought up at the end of last week's study session and Vernon felt there hadn't been enough time to discuss it...

Darden seeks Second Ward seat (04/11/07)
James "Coach Jimmy Dee" Darden has announced his candidacy for a Second Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 city election. Darden is a retired employee of the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center, for which he worked 23 years. Prior to that, he worked at Uniroyal in Shelbyville for 17 years. He is a graduate of Burt High School, Austin Peay State University and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa's continuing education program...

Thompson has lymphoma, in remission (04/11/07)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who is considering a bid for president, said Wednesday he has lymphoma, a form of cancer. In an interview with Fox News, the former Tennessee senator said he is in remission and the diagnosis shouldn't affect his life expectancy...

Ramsey to headline GOP banquet (04/10/07)
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey will be the guest speaker for Saturday's "Celebrate America Dinner," hosted by Bedford County Republican Party. The event, which in the past was called the Lincoln Day Dinner, will be Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Blue Ribbon Circle. Ramsey will also appear at a separately-ticketed reception from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. at Charleston On Main restaurant...

Travis seeks another term on Council (04/06/07)
Leonard Travis has announced his candidacy for re-election to a Ward 2 seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 city election. Travis is retired from Murfreesboro Pure Milk Co. (Purity) after 45 years of service. He has served on the Shelbyville Planning Commission, the Shelbyville Airport Authority, the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center board and the Stormwater committee...

Shelbyville elections could change (04/05/07)
Shelbyville could return to voting for aldermen by wards instead of "at large" in coming years. Councilman Wallace Cartwright suggested going to single member districts during Tuesday's study session of the city council. Councilmen Randy Vernon and Leonard Travis also supported the idea...

Cunningham seeks City Council seat (04/04/07)
Lee Roy Cunningham has announced his candidacy for a Fourth Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 city election. Cunningham was born, raised and educated in Bedford County. He owns and operates Bedford Motors and has been a businessman for 44 years...

Alexander will seek second term (04/03/07)
MARYVILLE (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who has always liked to begin campaigns from his hometown, came home today to say he plans to run for re-election in 2008. "While I'm not starting a campaign today, I wanted to make it clear to the people of Tennessee that I would be a candidate next year when the time comes," he said...

Ten qualify for city election (03/30/07)
Ten candidates have qualified to run for offices in the June 7 Shelbyville city election, including three candidates for mayor. This is the last city election to be held in an odd-numbered year. Starting in 2008, city elections will be held in November of even-numbered years, at the same time as state and federal general elections. This will save the city the cost of having its own separate election...

Taylor seeks Fourth Ward seat (03/27/07)
June Taylor has announced her candidacy for a Fourth Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 city election. Taylor is director and owner of Kiddie Kare I Infant and Toddler Center and Kiddie Kare II Preschool. She has been in the child care business for 20 years...

Cartwright seeks mayor's office (03/22/07)
Wallace Cartwright has announced his candidacy for mayor of Shelbyville in the June 7 city election. Cartwright is currently serving his third term as a council member representing Ward 3. Cartwright was a partner with his father in Ewing F. Cartwright and Son, General Contractors, for 24 years. ...

Mayor seeks re-election (03/15/07)
Geneva Smith has announced her candidacy for re-election as mayor of Shelbyville in the June 7 city election. Smith, a Bedford County native, is a member of Fairfield Church of Christ. She is a member of the Shelbyville & Bedford County Chamber of Commerce board; the Economic Development and Tourism board; and the Joint Economic Development Board. ...

Stephenson seeks Council seat (03/14/07)
Former Shelbyville mayor Albert Stephenson has announced his candidacy for City Council, representing Ward 2, in the June 7 city election. Stephenson was mayor from 1995 to 1999. He is an alumnus of Leadership Bedford and holds a certificate for government leadership from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville Institute for Public Service. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former president of Shelbyville Kiwanis Club and a former lieutenant governor for Kiwanis International...

Robinson enters mayor's race (02/26/07)
Former City Manager Jerry Robinson has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Shelbyville in the June 7 city election. Robinson was city manager in 1996 and 1997. He has been employed at Winner's Circle Horse Supply in Shelbyville since 1998, and he is a member of First Baptist Church on Depot Street...

Williams seeks City Council seat (02/19/07)
James Isaac "Jamie" Williams III has announced his candidacy for the Fourth Ward seat on Shelbyville City Council in the June 7 general election. A lifelong resident of Shelbyville, Williams is a graduate of Cascade High School and attended Middle Tennessee State University. He is employed by Ilene Industries...

State GOP money reaches candidates despite limits (01/18/07)
NASHVILLE (AP) -- Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey's political action committee avoided campaign contribution limits by giving money to another PAC, which then directed money to key Republican candidates, an Associated Press analysis of campaign finance records has found...

Political figures address Flat Creek club (01/10/07)
With a potluck dinner fit for a king, and top notch music provided by Jim and Inge Wood, the Flat Creek Community Club held its monthly meeting Saturday night. The night's agenda included comments from four elected officials who were the club's special guests...

Vet will take Normandy board slot (01/09/07)
Normandy Mayor Larry Nee says the town's next alderwoman will be a veterinarian. Dr. Elizabeth Meerdink of the Southside Veterinary Hospital on South Cannon Boulevard has agreed to be elected by the Normandy Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the mayor said Monday...

Alderman changes mind, resigns (12/13/06)
Normandy's mayor and remaining two alderwomen are looking for a successor for an alderman who said he would resign because the mayor beat him in the November election. Former Alderman Jim Hill has now changed his mind twice, and all in the midst of tirades including flamboyant and prophetic declarations such as, "They can call me a flip-flopper."...

Hill decides not to resign (12/11/06)
A Normandy alderman who lost in his bid to unseat the mayor during the November elections, now says he won't resign as previously announced and offers a tirade with national comparisons. "They can call me a flip-flopper like John Kerry, but I won't cut and run like Donald Rumsfeld," Alderman Jim Hill said Sunday when asked if he'd submitted his resignation to Mayor Larry Nee...

Two seek BCUD seats (12/01/06)
Two cattlemen are running for the open seat on the Bedford County Utility District's Board of Commissioners in an election with voting during 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. David Dickens, 41, of U.S. 231 North, and Donald Taylor, 70, of Airport Road are the candidates for the seat left open when Marty Davis resigned to accept his new job as general manager of BCUD...

Ford loss wasn't due to racism, say officials (11/09/06)
Although some commentators have ascribed the results of Tuesday's U.S. Senate race between Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr. to racial issues, local figures from both parties downplay that factor. Democratic State Rep. Curt Cobb said the negative campaigning in the race between Republican Corker and Democrat Ford alienated many voters...

Surprises occur in Wartrace, Normandy (11/08/06)
Incumbents led the pack in Wartrace and Normandy elections on Tuesday, but the Bedford County towns still have surprises in their home-town ways. Normandy Mayor Larry Nee was re-elected with 22 votes, besting Alderman Jim Hill who received eight votes, and Hill has announced he'll submit his resignation from the town board at the next meeting....

Wartrace, Normandy face town elections (11/07/06)
Two men waging write-in campaigns for mayor of Normandy have exchanged barbs this fall, but the other municipal election in Bedford County is in Wartrace, where there's hardly a trace of political warfare. All three candidates for two seats on the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen have complimented their opponents, but in Normandy challenger Jim Hill has accused Mayor Larry Nee of doing nothing about dogs at-large. ...

Early voting increases locally (11/07/06)
The number of Bedford County residents voting early has increased by more than 28 percent compared to the number of early ballots during the previous comparable election. That conclusion is based on numbers released Monday by County Elections Administrator Anna Clanton, who said she's finished counting early voters but expected to count more absentee ballots when today's mail was delivered...

County voters closely parallel statewide numbers (11/08/06)
Bedford County fell closely in line with statewide results in Tuesday's election, narrowly supporting Republican Bob Corker in the U.S. Senate race while helping to re-elect Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and Sixth District U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon....

Early voting is up statewide (11/01/06)
Early voting is up by about 45 percent across Tennessee, according to the state elections coordinator. Meanwhile, Summer Leverette, deputy administrator of elections in Bedford County, says 3,135 had voted by 9:15 this morning. That's out of 21,096 registered voters here...

French reporter visits Shelbyville (10/31/06)
The Senate race between U.S. Rep. Harold Ford and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker is so hot that European news media have sent reporters to Tennessee to cover the election. But that was just the first reason reporter Gilles Biassette of the French newspaper la Croix came to Shelbyville on Monday. He'd heard of the influx of Hispanics in Bedford County and it was recognized as part of the campaign...

Early voting continues through Thursday (10/28/06)
With early voting continuing at the Bedford County Courthouse through Nov. 2, interest in Tennessee's statewide elections has attracted national attention since political control of the U.S. Senate may be at stake, and Bedford County is to be one of the targets for exit polling...

Hilleary stumps locally for Corker (10/24/06)
Former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, during a visit to Shelbyville on Monday, thanked Bedford County Republicans for supporting him in the August primary election for U.S. Senate but said it's important for the party faithful to fall in behind the nominee, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker...

Hilleary to stump for Corker (10/21/06)
Former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary will make a campaign appearance in Shelbyville Monday on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker. Hilleary will speak to a "Republicans for Corker" gathering from 9:30 until 10:15 a.m. Monday at Bedford County GOP Campaign Headquarters, 407 Elm St. (the former location of Flowers Etc.). The event is open to the public...

Early voting begins for November elections (10/19/06)
Early voting in federal, state and municipal elections started Wednesday at an average pace, but some voters are asking questions about the proposed change for Tennessee's Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. "I'm afraid they're voting the opposite of what they intended," said Charlene Woodson, one of the Bedford County Election Commission poll workers in the basement of the county courthouse where early voting is being conducted Monday through Saturday until Nov. ...

Campaign spending reported (10/16/06)
Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray spent about 37 percent more on his election campaign than his opponents' combined total in the primary and general elections, according to public records filed by a deadline last week. Meanwhile, Sheriff Randall Boyce spent virtually twice as much as his opponents on campaigns for the Democratic nomination and the county's Aug. 3 general election, documents filed at the Election Commission office indicate...

Early voting begins next week (10/11/06)
Early voting for the November state and federal elections starts one week from today and since the county's general election approximately 400 people have registered so they may vote in the Nov. 7 races. Bedford County had 21,131 registered voters as of the close of business on Monday, but Elections Administrator Anna Clanton says there may be as many as 20 more registration forms to add to the voter rolls since the deadline last weekend...

J. Patrick Lyons dead at 62 (10/05/06)
J. Patrick Lyons of Shelbyville, who ran a series of unsuccessful campaigns for Congress -- and mounted court challenges to his overwhelmingly-favored opponents -- died Wednesday at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro. He was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains, according to one source...

Corker likes campaign's progress (09/03/06)
Former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker, visiting the Celebration on Friday, said he believes his candidate for the U.S. Senate is going well. "It's outstanding," said Corker. "I love the energy of it." Corker, the Republican nominee, faces Democratic nominee U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., whom he called "the most liberal member of the Tennessee delegation." He said his philosophical differences with Ford, and his background and experience, make him the best choice for the job...

Ford visits TWHNC crowd (08/30/06)
U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Memphis, the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat, attended the Celebration Tuesday, where he was introduced by announcer Chip Walters as "one of the reasons we're having a horse show tonight." Ford had originally been scheduled to present a class award on Friday night, and was on his way to the Celebration grounds just as a dispute between trainers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture shut down Friday night's show...

Normandy mayor must run as write-in (08/23/06)
When elections roll around in Normandy in November, those wanting to vote for incumbent mayor Larry Nee will have to fill his name in as a write-in candidate. That's because Nee was apparently 25 minutes late in filing his petition to run for the office last Friday, according to Bedford County Elections Administrator Anna Clanton...

Lyons vs. Gordon enters Round 3 (08/17/06)
A Bell Buckle man continues to press his petition in Bedford County Chancery Court against incumbents being able to succeed themselves in Congress by clarifying reports that state, among other things, the chancellor conducted research of his own. J. Patrick Lyons asked Bedford County Chancellor J.B. Cox to direct state Elections Coordinator Brook Thompson to follow laws which Lyons contends should prevent 6th District Congressman Bart Gordon of Murfreesboro from succeeding himself...

Hall income tax in Hall's sights (08/16/06)
Beyond his pledge to prevent enactment of a new income tax in Tennessee, state Sen. Jim Bryson, the Republican candidate for governor, on Tuesday said that if elected he would try to eliminate the state's so-called Hall income tax. Enacted during the Great Depression and named after the state senator who developed the tax law, the Hall income tax is collected on the income Tennesseans earn on interest generated from savings and checking accounts and dividends paid to stockholders...

Bryson makes Shelbyville campaign stop (08/16/06)
State Sen. Jim Bryson brought his "BIG" campaign for governor to Shelbyville on Tuesday afternoon while campaigning to all of Tennessee's 95 counties in 30 days. "Our job is to turn last week's victory into the first step on a road that leads straight to new leadership in the governor's office," Bryson told fellow Republicans...

Candidates flocking to Shelbyville (08/09/06)
As Tennessee farmers are to hear candidates for governor at their annual Presidents Conference this week, the Republican candidate is coming to Shelbyville on Tuesday and it's anticipated that the Democratic incumbent will be here for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration...

Lyons asks for revised order (08/07/06)
Even though a chancellor told him that it seemed appropriate to add U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon as a defendant in a petition for interpretation of state and federal law, J. Patrick Lyons of Bell Buckle has taken a different approach. Lyons asked Chancellor J.B. Cox to alter a proposed order prepared by Janet M. Kleinfelter, senior counsel in the financial division of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, for Cox to sign...

Ray, Boyce, Webb win local elections (08/04/06)
Eugene Ray was elected Bedford County mayor Thursday night, defeating independent Mike "Fish" Fisher by a margin of 4,036 to 2,932, according to unofficial totals released very late Thursday night by the county election office. Ray, the Democratic nominee, succeeds Jimmy Woodson, who chose not to run for re-election but who was elected to a county commission seat....

Winners outspent losers in county races (08/04/06)
Bedford County's next sheriff, Democratic nominee Randall Boyce, has outspent his Republican opponent, Chris Brown, by nearly $19,000, according to campaign financial disclosure statements. Meanwhile, Bedford County Commission Chairman Eugene Ray, the Democratic nominee who was elected county mayor yesterday, spent $10,000 more than his independent opponent Mike "Fish" Fisher, public records show...

Hoke seeks GOP committee post (08/02/06)
David Hoke of Murfreesboro has announced his candidacy for Republican State Executive Committeeman representing the 16th Senatorial District (Bedford, Moore and parts of Rutherford counties) in Thursday's election. One man and one woman are elected to represent each district...

New voting machine put through its paces (08/01/06)
Training was available Monday night on the "New Infinity." It wasn't a car, or about the "great beyond." It's a new brand of voting machine. Twenty-three people attended ... "And they were scared," election machine technician Tony Clanton said after the training session, allowing that any time there's something new to be learned, there's an element of fear...

Early voting down despite last-minute rush (07/31/06)
More than a couple dozen people were lined up Saturday morning at the Bedford County Courthouse where they were waiting for the election office to open so they could cast early ballots in county elections and in the political primaries that end Thursday night...

Gordon's votes will be counted (07/29/06)
A request to prevent votes from being counted for U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon in Thursday's Democratic primary was dismissed Friday in Bedford County Chancery Court, but petitioner J. Patrick Lyons was told his litigation may continue by naming Gordon as a defendant...

Russell seeks re-election as judge (07/28/06)
Lee Russell has announced his candidacy for re-election as judge of 17th Judicial District Circuit Court, Part II, in the Aug. 3 general election. The district includes Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties. Russell has held the position since 1990, when he was appointed by Gov. Ned McWherter. He ran unopposed for re-election in 1990 and again in 1998...

Wartrace, Normandy elections scheduled (07/27/06)
With so many early voters filing through the office, longer hours and an extra day a week at the office, Bedford County Elections Administrator Anna Clanton might need to be pardoned for her faux pas this week. That came during a meeting of the Election Commission that had to be held in the downstairs lobby of the courthouse because early voting booths were set up in the department's conference room and the 5 p.m. meeting time was when early voting was to end for the day...

Lyons runs for Sixth District seat (07/27/06)
J. Patrick Lyons of Bell Buckle has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the Sixth District U.S. House of Representatives seat in the Aug. 3 primary. Lyons, 62, is a Vietnam-era veteran and says he, seven brothers and a sister have a combined 102 years of active military duty from World War II onward...

Lyons challenges state election authorities (07/27/06)
Arguments that congressmen can't succeed themselves have been set to be heard Friday in Bedford County Chancery Court as presented by a Bell Buckle man who is on Tuesday's ballot to be the Democratic nominee for Tennessee's 6th District representative...

Webb seeks Bell Buckle mayorship (07/25/06)
Dennis Webb has announced his candidacy for mayor of Bell Buckle in the Aug. 3 town election. Webb has served as an alderman for two years and has been involved in all aspects of town government. He and his wife Carla have been residents of the town since 1995...

Last week for early voting (07/24/06)
Bedford County voters have five more days to cast ballots early and avoid the rush in the Aug. 3 county elections and the primaries for state and federal office. More than 900 of the 20,755 registered voters in Bedford County had cast ballots in the political contests by Saturday morning. Early voting also applies to the race for mayor in Bell Buckle...

Cox seeks re-election as chancellor (07/24/06)
J.B. Cox has announced his candidacy for re-election as chancellor of the 17th Judicial District in the Aug. 3 general election. A lifelong resident of Lincoln County, Cox and his family reside in the Howell community in Lincoln County. He is married to the former Nancy McKinney and they have two children, Ben, 8, and Julia, 3...

Reagor a candidate for Bell Buckle mayor (07/24/06)
Frank Reagor has announced his candidacy for mayor of Bell Buckle in the Aug. 3 town election. Reagor has served for six years as an alderman and 1 1/2 years on the town's planning commission. He has been a resident of Bell Buckle since 1988 and has family connections in the area going back more than 100 years. He is retired. He and his wife have two children, three grandchildren and four-grandchildren. He is a member of Bell Buckle Church of Christ...

Farrar seeks another commission term (07/24/06)
P.T. "Biff" Farrar has announced his candidacy for re-election to a ninth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the August 3 general election. Farrar is vice-chair of the commission's rules and legislative committee. Farrar taught social studies at Central High School for 20 years. ...

Martin seeks School Board re-election (07/24/06)
Amy Martin has announced her candidacy for re-election to a third district seat on the Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 3 general election. Coordinator of fiscal services and human resources at Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, Martin has been with TTCS since 1973...

Competitive races bring on spending (07/21/06)
In politics, competition costs money. That would appear to be one lesson from a stack of political campaign financial disclosure statements at the Bedford County Courthouse. Another might be that candidates are attracted to a void as County Elections Administrator Anna Clanton notes that there are more candidates running for county commission where there's an open seat...

Sheriff's hopefuls outspend mayoral candidates (07/20/06)
Election campaign spending on the sheriff's race has now exceeded the amount spent on the county mayor's race. It was just the opposite two months ago, according to disclosure statements filed at the Bedford County Courthouse. Better comparisons became available last week...

Crigler unopposed for circuit judge (07/19/06)
Robert Crigler has announced his candidacy for circuit court judge in the 17th Judicial District which includes Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties. Crigler has served as the Part I judge since February 2005 when he was appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to succeed Judge Charles Lee, who retired before his term expired...

Schumann to run in fourth district (07/18/06)
Wayne Schumann has announced his candidacy for a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Schumann was chief operating officer for Bedford County Medical Center before becoming administrator of Bedford County Nursing Home. ...

Tillett seeks sixth district seat (07/18/06)
Joe Tillett of Shelbyville has announced his candidacy for a sixth district seat on 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 College in North Carolina...

Peoples enters commission race (07/17/06)
Lizzie M. Peoples has announced her candidacy for a Seventh District seat on the Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. A native of Marshall County, she has been employed by Jostens Inc. for 12 years as an editor and is a member of JCAR (Jostens Community Awareness Representative). She is a former member of Bedford County Board of Education...

Thomas seeks re-election (07/17/06)
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 Volunteer Fire Services Inc. He has been with VFSI since it was formed and was employed by its predecessor, Bedford County Fire Department, before that, a total of 25 years. He is a former member of the Bedford County Communications Center board and the Emergency Communications District (E-911) board...

Woodson announces for commission seat (07/14/06)
Jimmy Woodson has announced his candidacy for a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. The district is composed of Bedford, Liberty and Wheel precincts. Woodson has served as county mayor since 1998 and will leave that office Aug. ...

Early voting is now underway (07/14/06)
Early voting started this morning with nearly 20,800 voters registered for the Aug. 3 state primary and general elections in Bedford County. And the decisions to be made by voters' balloting comes this summer with the introduction of new equipment at the Election Commission offices...

Forsee seeks re-election to school board (07/14/06)
Glenn Forsee has announced his candidacy for re-election to a ninth district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 3. general election. Forsee was appointed in June 2005 to fill the unexpired term of Jim Tracy. Forsee has been pastor of First Assembly of God for 21 years. ...

Vannatta seeks re-election (07/13/06)
Bobby Vannatta has announced his candidacy for re-election to a second district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Vannatta was first elected to the commission in 1994. He serves on its budget and finance committee and previously served on its rules and legislative committee and its law enforcement committee. He is chairman of the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority board...

King seeks fourth district seat (07/12/06)
Billy King has announced his candidacy for re-election to a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. King, a lifelong resident of Bedford County, has served on the courthouse and county property committee for the past four years. He works as a sales associate with Badcock Furniture in Shelbyville...

Neeley seeks re-election to school board (07/12/06)
Diane Neeley has announced her candidacy for re-election to a fourth district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the Aug. 3 general election. Neeley is treasurer of Liberty School PTO and a member of the school's Parent Advisory Committee. ...

Wilson seeks fifth district seat (07/11/06)
James D. "Bo" Wilson has announced his candidacy for re-election to a fifth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Wilson currently serves on the commission's budget and finance committee. He is a former chair of the courthouse and county property committee...

Eugene Nichols runs for fourth district (07/11/06)
Eugene Nichols has announced his candidacy for a Fourth District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. A lifelong resident of Bedford County, he is currently employed as deputy director of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency. ...

Milam seeks third district seat (07/11/06)
Lelan "Jay" Milam of Rover has announced his candidacy for a third district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Milam served for 24 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring and was owner and practitioner at the Eagleville Clinic for 21 years. ...

Dye seeks fifth district seat (07/10/06)
James Dye has announced his candidacy for a fifth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Dye is a deputy electrical inspector for the State of Tennessee serving Bedford, Marshall and Moore counties. He is a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, the National Fire Association and the Tennessee Association of Electrical Inspectors...

Barrett is seventh district candidate (07/10/06)
Tony Barrett has announced his candidacy for a seventh district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Barrett has worked in law enforcement in Bedford County for 28 years, as a member of Bedford County Sheriff's Department, as part of the District Attorney General's office, as a judicial commissioner and for the past six years as a school resource officer at Cascade High School...

Growth issues dominate candidate forum (07/08/06)
How to deal with growth in Bedford County was a chief topic at the candidates forum conducted Thursday by the local branch of the NAACP. Crowded schools and congested roads were mentioned by county mayoral candidates Mike Fisher and Eugene Ray while Chris Brown, a candidate for sheriff, suggested deputies' use of rural fire halls as substations...

Tune seeks seventh district seat (07/07/06)
Joyce Tune has announced her candidacy for re-election to a Seventh District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 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 15 years...

Nichols is fifth district candidate (07/07/06)
Frank Nichols of Raus has announced his candidacy for a fifth district seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. A lifelong resident of Bedford County, he is a graduate of Central High School. He and his wife Alice have owned Handy Dandy Market in Shelbyville for 44 years. He served eight years in the Tennessee National Guard and served for four years on the City of Shelbyville Merit Board. He was a founder of the Celebration City Antique Car Club...

Patterson seeks commission seat (07/06/06)
Jimmy S. Patterson has announced his candidacy for election to a third district seat on Bedford County Board of commissioners in the Aug. 3 general election. Patterson is retired from Cooper Steel, where he worked 20 years as shop supervisor. He is a veteran of the U.S. ...

Yockey runs for commission (07/06/06)
Linda Yockey has announced her candidacy for a Fifth District seat on Bedford County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 5 general election. The district is composed of the Flat Creek, Normandy and Raus precincts. Yockey has been a science teacher at Cascade High School for 26 years, teaching physical science, biology, chemistry and physics...

Registration closes for August elections (07/05/06)
At least 30 people registered to vote on Monday, the last day to register before the Aug. 3 election which includes state and federal primaries, Bedford County's general election and Bell Buckle's city election. The number of people eligible to vote here next month will probably exceed the 20,761 noted by Andrew Robertson, assistant elections administrator for Bedford County, because some registration forms will be received by mail with Monday's postmark...

Darden seeks seventh district seat (07/05/06)
James "Coach Jimmy Dee" Darden has announced his cand