County Commission to Have Nine New Members

August 5, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The 14 member DeKalb County Commission will be made up of nine new members starting next month and overall, eight seats will be held by Republicans compared to four by Democrats and two by Independents.

In the General Election Thursday, three incumbents were defeated including Democrat Julie Young in the 1st district, Democrat Janice Fish Stewart in the 4th district, and Republican Bruce Malone in the 7th district.

Two new members were elected from the 1st district including Republican Tom Chandler, who won Thursday with 303 votes and Independent Daniel D. Cripps who received 225 votes. Republican Bennett Armstrong lost with 178 votes and Young came in last with 140 votes. Shaee Flatt, another incumbent 1st district commissioner who was appointed in 2021 to fill a vacancy did not seek election to a full term.

The second district incumbent commissioners were re-elected. Republican Sabrina Farler won with 389 votes and Democrat Myron Rhody received 307 votes. Republican Jim Pearson came up short losing with 255 votes.

Third district incumbent Democratic Commissioner Susannah Cripps Daughtry, who was also appointed in 2021 to fill a vacancy, was elected to her first full term Thursday winning with 260 votes but it was independent candidate Tony Luna who led the ticket in the district with 289 votes. Republican Tim Perricone narrowly lost with 250 votes and former county commissioner Jack E. Barton, III had 230 votes in a losing effort.

The fourth district will have two Republican commissioners in Tony “Cully” Culwell who won with 335 votes and Greg Matthews who garnered 270 votes. Commissioner Janice Fish Stewart came in third losing with 237 votes and former commissioner Wayne Cantrell, an Independent, lost with 199 votes. Another incumbent 4th district commissioner, Dr. Scott Little, a Democrat chose not to seek re-election but instead made an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the school board.

The fifth district will be represented by two GOP commissioners, Larry Green and Glynn Merriman, who both ran unopposed Thursday. Green received 414 votes and Merriman polled 359. Incumbent 5th District Commissioner Anita Puckett chose not to seek re-election but instead made an unsuccessful run for the GOP nomination for County Mayor in May.

Democratic 6th district incumbent Commissioner Jeff Barnes, the longest serving current member at 20 years, was re-elected with 267 votes but Republican Justin Douglas Adcock was the top vote getter in the district with 311. Republican Doug Stephens fell just short of being elected with 259 votes and former commissioner Danny McGinnis, a Democrat, got 112 votes in a losing run. Incumbent GOP 6th district commissioner Matt Adcock elected not to seek re-election but instead ran for and won the office of County Mayor.

Seventh district incumbent Beth Pafford, a Democrat, was re-elected with 248 votes but Republican Timothy Brian Reynolds led the pack in the district with 271 votes, Incumbent Republican Bruce Malone lost with 206 votes.

The terms of office are for 4 years each to begin September 1.

August 5, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Historic!

For the first time in DeKalb County history Republicans will hold all elected county-wide offices beginning in September.

In the General Election Thursday Republicans swept all county wide races and won a majority of the seats on the county commission and school board.

Matt Adcock, who currently serves as a Republican County Commissioner in the 6th district, was elected DeKalb County Mayor defeating Democrat Mike Foster, a former three term County Mayor who served from 2002 to 2014 before being defeated by Tim Stribling in the Democratic Primary that year and again four years later in a primary rematch. Adcock won with 2,597 votes compared to 1,952 for Foster, who had unseated Stribling in another primary battle between the two in May.

Adcock carried all precincts except Snow Hill where he lost 63 to 61 and he had a majority of the early votes and absentees. The County Mayor’s Office hasn’t been held by a Republican in 40 years since Billy J. Lafever left office. Lafever served as County Mayor (known as County Judge at that time) from 1966-1982 in what were 8-year terms back then.

Republican Daniel Seber will become the next Register of Deeds succeeding 36-year veteran Jeff McMillen, who chose not to seek a 10th term. Seber defeated Democrat Shelby Reeder 2,424 to 2,049.

Seber carried every precinct except the Smithville Church of God where he only lost by one vote 114 to 113. He also had a majority of the early votes and absentees.

Brandon Cox, a Republican, was elected General Sessions Court Judge, defeating Democrat Tecia Puckett Pryor 3,103 to 1,425. Cox will take over from 24-year three term Judge Bratten Cook, II who elected not to run again this year.

Cox carried all precincts and had a majority of the early votes and absentees.

Republican Incumbent Road Supervisor Danny Hale won re-election beating Democrat Wayne Shehane 2,589 to 1,917.

Hale won every precinct except Blue Springs and Snow Hill where he lost 84 to 80 and 67 to 59 respectively. Hale also had a majority of the early votes and absentees.

Other GOP incumbents winning unopposed were Sheriff Patrick Ray, who led the ticket with 3,844 votes; County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss with 3,826; Trustee Sean Driver 3,800; and Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin 3,601 votes.

The other Republican County Office holder is Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, who is not up for re-election until 2024.

A total of 4,794 people voted in the election including 2,214 on election day and 2,357 during early voting. There were 223 absentee voters. The turnout represented 37.14% of the total number of registered voters at 12,909.

Meanwhile, 13-year veteran Circuit Court Judge Amy Hollars of Livingston lost her bid for re-election Thursday to Republican William T. “Will” Ridley of Crossville in the General Election.

In the seven counties combined that make up the 13^th Judicial District including DeKalb Judge Hollars, as Circuit Court Judge in Part 1 of the district lost to Ridley 20,475 to 12,480.  Ridley defeated her in DeKalb County 2,344 to 1,343. Ridley carried every local precinct and won a majority of the early votes and absentees. Hollars won only her home county of Overton 2,446 to 1,792.

The six other judicial candidates in the 13th district, all Republicans, won their elections unopposed on Thursday.

Here are the results for them:

Circuit Court Judge Part II- 13th Judicial District
Caroline Knight – 25,339 (district-wide) including 2,838 in DeKalb County

Chancellor- 13th Judicial District
Ronald Thurman (Incumbent) – 25,287 (district-wide) including 2,871 in DeKalb County

Criminal Court Judge Part I 13th Judicial District:
Gary S. McKenzie (Incumbent)-24,850 (district-wide) including 2,753 in DeKalb County

Criminal Court Judge Part II 13th Judicial District:
Wesley Bray (Incumbent)-24,591 (district-wide) including 2,699 in DeKalb County

Public Defender 13th Judicial District:
Craig P. Fickling, Jr. (Incumbent)-23,367 (district-wide) including 2,578 in DeKalb County

District Attorney General 13th Judicial District:
Bryant C. Dunaway (Incumbent)-25,319 (district-wide) including 2,776 in DeKalb County.

August 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Election Day has arrived!

From the city halls to the state house, voters in DeKalb County will be making their choices at the ballot box today for candidates they want to represent them in public office over the next two or four years.

August Sample Ballot

WJLE will have exclusive LIVE election return coverage and candidate interviews when the polls close starting at 7 p.m. on WJLE AM 1480/ FM 101.7 and AUDIO LIVE STREAM. Look for precinct returns in all contested local races at the following links as they come in tonight:

Live Results

(Click link below to view results of District 40-State House Race between Terri Lynn Weaver and Michael Hale)

District 40-State House Race

The ballot is lengthy and will consist of the DeKalb County General Election which includes the offices of County Mayor, Sheriff, Road Supervisor, Register of Deeds, Trustee, County Clerk, General Sessions Court Judge, Circuit Court Clerk, County Commission (seven districts), Board of Education (five districts), and judicial offices in the seven-county 13th judicial district which includes DeKalb County. The ballot also includes municipal or city elections in Smithville, Alexandria, Dowelltown, and Liberty and the Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries to select nominees for state and federal offices for the November General Election.

The polls at all 12 precincts in DeKalb County will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Those precincts are at Alexandria, Temperance Hall, Liberty, Snow Hill, Smithville Church of God, Courthouse, Rock Castle, Johnson Chapel, County Complex, Keltonburg, Blue Springs, and the Smithville Church of Christ Annex.

Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections urges voters to study the sample ballot and be better prepared to help avoid longer lines at the polls.

“The ballot is rather lengthy and hopefully voters will do some homework before showing up at the polls. The ballot is available on our website at www.dekalbelections.com and on www.wjle.com. We hope voters will not wait until the very last minute. Of course, the polls are open until 7 p.m. and if you are in line at 7 p.m. you will be able to vote. Study the ballot and things will go a lot smoother if you are prepared. If you have a question where your precinct is give us a call at the election office at 615-597-4146,” said Stanley.

The DeKalb County General Election will feature four contested races for county offices including County Mayor, General Sessions Court Judge, Register of Deeds and Road Supervisor.

August Sample Ballot

Former County Mayor Mike Foster, a Democrat, is hoping for a return to the office but he is facing a challenge from Republican Matt Adcock, who currently serves on the county commission. The term is 4 years beginning September 1

Local attorneys Brandon Cox, a Republican and Tecia Puckett Pryor, a Democrat are running against each other to determine who succeeds retiring General Sessions Court Judge Bratten Cook, II. The winner will take over from Judge Cook on September 1, who will be completing 24 years on the bench as DeKalb County’s General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge. The term of office is 8 years.

Republican Daniel Seber and Democrat Shelby Reeder are in the race to see who will succeed longtime Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, who is retiring August 31 after 36 years in office. The term is 4 years.

Meanwhile, Republican Incumbent Road Supervisor Danny Hale, seeking his second- 4-year term, is being challenged for re-election by Democrat Wayne Shehane.

The other county officials up for re-election to new 4-year terms, all Incumbent Republicans, are running unopposed as follows:

County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss enroute to a third term

Trustee Sean Driver seeking his fifth term

Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin looking toward her second term.

Sheriff Patrick Ray on his way to fifth term.

The field of county commission candidates in each district are as follows:

First District: Julie Young (Democrat), Bennett Armstrong (Republican), Tom Chandler (Republican), and Daniel Cripps (Independent). Two are to be elected.

Second District: Myron Rhody (Democrat), Sabrina Farler (Republican), and Jim Pearson (Republican). Two are to be elected.

Third District: Susannah Cripps Daughtry (Democrat), Jack Barton (Democrat), Tim Perricone (Republican), and Tony Luna (Independent). Two are to be elected.

Fourth District: Janice Fish Stewart (Democrat), Greg Matthews (Republican), Tony (Cully) Culwell (Republican), and Wayne Cantrell (Independent). Two are to be elected.

Fifth District: Larry Green (Republican) and Glynn Merriman (Republican). Both are to be elected unopposed.

Sixth District: Jeff Barnes (Democrat), Danny McGinnis (Democrat), Doug Stephens (Republican), and Justin Douglas Adcock (Republican). Two are to be elected.

Seventh District: Beth Pafford (Democrat), Bruce Malone (Republican), and Timothy Reynolds (Republican). Two are to be elected.

There are two contested Board of Education races in the August 4 DeKalb County General Election.
Voters in districts 1, 2, 3, 4, & 7 will elect a school board member. The terms are for 4 years beginning September 1.

There are no Democratic or Republican candidates for the Board of Education in District 1 but Incumbent Danny Parkerson is running unopposed as an Independent for re-election.

Incumbent school board member Alan Hayes (Republican) is unopposed in District 2.’

Incumbent school board member Jim Beshearse (Republican) in District 3 is unopposed.

Three people are in the race to succeed Incumbent school board member Kate Miller in District 4 who is not seeking re-election. Those candidates are Democrat Dr. Scott Little, Republican Eric Ervin , and Independent Tony Poss.

Incumbent school board member Shaun Tubbs in District 7 is running for re-election as an Independent and will face opposition from Republican Ryan Mollinet.

Seven judicial positions in the 13th district will be filled in the elections but only one of them is contested. All terms are for 8 years beginning September 1.

Incumbent Circuit Court Judge Part I Amy Hollars of Livingston (Independent) will be challenged for re-election by Republican William T. “Will” Ridley of Crossville.

The six other judicial candidates, all Republicans, are running unopposed as follows:

Circuit Court Judge Part II- 13th Judicial District
Caroline Knight

Chancellor- 13th Judicial District

Ronald Thurman (Incumbent)

Criminal Court Judge Part I- 13th Judicial District:

Gary S. McKenzie (Incumbent)

Criminal Court Judge Part II- 13th Judicial District:
Wesley Bray (Incumbent)

Public Defender- 13th Judicial District:
Craig P. Fickling, Jr. (Incumbent)

District Attorney General- 13th Judicial District:
Bryant C. Dunaway (Incumbent)

All four cities in DeKalb County will have municipal elections

Smithville voters will elect a mayor and two aldermen. All terms are for 4 years beginning September 1.

Smithville Mayor Josh Miller will be unopposed for re-election. Three people are running for Alderman. The candidates are Incumbent Alderman Beth Chandler, Don Crook, and Rhonda Tiefenauer. Two from that group will be elected.

In the Liberty Municipal Election, a mayor and five aldermen will be elected.

Incumbent Mayor Jason Hayes Ray will be challenged by Audrey M. Martin while six candidates will be in the running for one of the five alderman seats including Kendra Stanford, James Ryan Dodd and Incumbents William H. Reynolds, Jr., Derek Johnson, Joe D. Bratten, and Kevin R. Mullinax. All terms are for four years.

The Alexandria Municipal Election will feature a contested race for Mayor between Lloyd D. Dyer and Jana Beth Tripp, who both currently serve as Aldermen.

In Alexandria, voters are to elect a Mayor to a full four-year term and were to have elected three Aldermen each to a full four-year term; and two Aldermen to fill unexpired terms. Only one person, Curtis J. Rutter qualified to run for an unexpired Alderman seat.

In Dowelltown, the Municipal Election was to elect two Aldermen each to a full four-year term but only one will be elected. Incumbent Alderman Greg Fish is the lone candidate on the ballot.

The Tennessee Democratic and Republican parties will have primaries on Thursday, August 4th to select nominees for Governor, U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee House of Representatives and State Executive Committeemen and Committeewomen.

Unlike the DeKalb County General Election and Municipal Elections, voters must declare in which state primary (Democratic or Republican) they intend to vote

The most hotly contested state primary race in DeKalb County is the 40th District State Representative Republican Primary battle between 14-year incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster and Smithville businessman Michael Hale. The winner will face Democrat Tom Cook of Silver Point in the November 8th Tennessee General Election. Cook is unopposed in the state Democratic Primary. The 40th District includes all of DeKalb, Smith, Jackson, and Cannon Counties and a small portion of Wilson County.

The candidates on the State Primary Ballots are as follows:

Governor:
GOP Primary: Incumbent Bill Lee

Democrat Primary: Carnita Faye Atwater of Memphis , Jason Brantley Martin of Nashville, and JB Smiley Jr. of Memphis

U.S. House of Representatives (6th District)
GOP Primary: Incumbent John Rose of Cookeville

Democrat Primary: Randal Cooper of Nashville and Clay Faircloth of Nashville

Tennessee House of Representatives (40th District)
GOP Primary: Incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver of Lancaster and Michael Hale of Smithville.

Democrat Primary: Tom Cook of Silver Point

GOP State Executive Committeeman (16th District): Jerry S. Anderson of Winchester

GOP State Executive Committeewoman (16th District): Amy L. Dennis of Winchester

Democratic State Executive Committeeman (16th District): Bobby Eddress Bush Jr. of Morrison

Democratic State Executive Committeewoman (16th District): Sheila Younglove of McMinnville

Meanwhile the ballot will also feature 26 State Judicial Retention questions in which voters may vote to either “retain” or “replace” judges.

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