I have been asked, hounded and requested to pontificate (express one’s opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic. synonyms: hold forth, expound, declaim, preach, lay down the law, sound off), prognosticate (foretell or prophesy an event in the future. synonyms: forecast, predict, prophesy, foretell, foresee, forewarn) about tomorrows contested elections, not picking on the uncontested races.
I will disclose the candidates that have advertised here with each race. That will not determine how I see the races. Just full disclosure. By the way, take these guesses and a $1.25 to Weigel’s and get your self a 24 oz coffee.
Circuit Court Judge Div. I I believe that the hard working Kristi Davis will squeak out a close win against Former Knox County GOP Chairs Ray H. Jenkins and Billy Stokes. Davis and Jenkins were advertisers through out the entire campaign.
Circuit Court Judge Div. IV This is a close race on the Republican side. Patti Jane Lay and Greg McMillan are going to the wire. I believe McMillan will edge out the win. On the Democrat side, Daniel Kidd and David Valone are facing each other. I believe Kidd will win the Democrat Primary. The winner of the Republican and Democrat primaries then square off in the August 7 General Election. Both Lay and McMillan were advertisers here.
County Commission, District 3: Randy Smith and Billy Stephens square off in the Republican Primary. I believe Smith will win this one. No one advertised here.
County Commission, District 7: Bo Bennett and Charles Busler face off. Bennett is a personal friend, almost my other brother. He was an advertiser, but only because I contributed the ads and his lapel stickers and bumper stickers to his campaign. I think the race is tight, but, I gotta go with Bennett.
County Commission, Seat 10: Yes, Bob Thomas is unopposed. He advertised for two months and I contributed the third month to him as an in kind contribution.
County Commission, Seat 11: Ed Brantley and Michele Carringer face off. This has been an interesting race and both candidates had “real people” calling even this afternoon. Carringer advertised for one month. Brantley had ads for two months, through the generosity of one of his supporters Sandy Loy. I believe that first name on the ballot, edges a win for Brantley.
Trustee: Barry Hawkins, Craig Leuthold and Ed Shouse are locked in a three way contest. Hawkins has been the man with the name and a million signs. Leuthold the bureaucrat/elected official combo and Shouse a railroad Entrepreneur and part time legislative Public Servant. I believe that Hawkins takes enough votes off Leuthold and Shouse’s base put Shouse in. How close will Hawkins and Leuthold be? Could be close enough that Leuthold comes in third. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Hawkins and Shouse were both featured with ads here.
Sheriff: Jimmy J.J. Jones will win convincingly (58%) over Sam Hammett and Bobby Waggoner.
Criminal Court Clerk: Mike Hammond, Jason Hunnicutt and Steve Williams. The lawyers (that have been vocal on this one) should have rallied behind Williams instead of last minute dragging Hunnicutt into the race. Hunnicutt has a bright future. Likely for a Judge position in 8 years. Williams is a likable and the best comedian of all candidates on the Knox County trail of 2014. Hunnicutt with his youthful exuberance would find a buzz saw of managing an office of mature ladies that would be unpleasant to witness by observers of county government. I see a Hammond win with Williams and Hunnicutt close to each others totals. Williams and Hammond both had ads here.
School Board:
If no candidate gets 50% plus 1 vote tomorrow, the top two run off in the August 7, General Election. Only one school board candidate advertised here and that is Terry Hill in District Six.
First, a disclosure. I haven’t been closely engaged with these races. Primarily, because the school board races have been a wedge between the Chamber folks and the Just Oppose (especially anything in West Knoxville) folks. I am truly an independent. When I agree with the Chamber folks, I agree with them. When I agree with the Just Oppose, I agree with them. Having served on the school board about 10 years ago. Education and our kids are too important to be a wedge weapon to beat each other over the head with. I will identify the ones supported by the chamber folks with a (C) primarily the incumbents. The Just Oppose I will identify as (JO) If I don’t see them as either then I don’t label them. This is how I see the candidates, not necessarily fact. It’s my opinion, because it’s my playground and you are reading my opinion, not your opinion or someone else’s. So, let’s go.
District 1: Gloria Deathridge (C) with Robert Boyd and Marshall Walker (JO) challenging the first term Vice Chair of the Board. I see a run off between Deathridge and Boyd on August 7, 2014.
District 4: First term and Current Board Chair Lynne Fugate (C) faces Tea Party Activist Sally Absher (JO) and Aviation Instructor J. Scott Clark. Several people that I know in the fourth district are predicting a close race with a run off between Fugate and Absher. From having driven through the district recently based on yard signs in yards. I find it hard NOT to predict a Fugate out right win tomorrow. We will see.
District 6: Four of the most diverse individuals ever to be assembled. The one guy Bradley Buchanan (JO) with three ladies, Terry Hill, Sandra Rowcliffe (C) and Tamara Shepherd (JO). A few weeks ago I would have predicted a Terry Hill win it out right. Rowcliffe has apparently sent a tree full of mailings in the last couple of weeks. She apparently had a robocall from a guy that lost his job for lying to the regulatory authorities of his profession. Shepherd has kept her campaign on KnoxViews and getting into fits with people that should be her friends. I find myself agreeing with Rachel and Pam. That is an odd, odd feeling, my friends. I do believe Terry Hill ends up first, I will go ahead with wishful thinking and predict a Brad Buchanan second place forcing a run off between Hill and Buchanan on August 7, 2014 General Election.
District 7: Patti Bounds is unopposed. She did not advertise here.
District 9: First term Incumbent Pam Trainor (C) and Halls Elementary Librarian Amber Rountree (JO) face each other. All the folks that I know, hard core Republicans are voting for Rountree. So, I will predict a Rountree win. After the win, I would like for Rountree to explain the almost $2,500 of in kind contribution of printing and a mailer from two individuals that work for the same company.
Criticize all you want! After the results are in, it is easy to say, you got it wrong. At least I had the intestinal fortitude to risk how I saw it. This may be the last exercise ever. We Will See.
