The slate for the May 1st primary in Rhea County is starting to fill up as is the non- partisan race set for Aug. 2.
Incumbent officer holders Sheriff Mike Neal, Circuit Court Clerk Jamie Holloway and Court Clerk Linda Shaver have already turned in their petitions to run for re-election. Only Sheriff Neal faces opposition from Cary Taylor.
Sheriff Neal, in his fourth term was elected in 2002 when then 16-year veteran Sheriff Leon Sneed decided not to run again.
Clerks Holloway and Shaver currently do not have any opposition. Ms. Shaver took office in 1998 when then County Clerk Jimmy Wilkey was elected county executive. She was deputy clerk for many years under Mr. Wilkey. Mr. Holloway was elected in 2010 as court clerk. He is a former trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and a Navy veteran.
Persons have until noon Feb 15 to turn in a petition to run for one of the county offices. As of this time, Trustee Neva Webb and Register of Deeds Gladys Best have not turned in petitions. James Nevans, a local surveyor, has picked up a petition to run for register of deeds, but has not turned it back in.
Ms. Best, who has been the Register of Deeds for 55 years in Rhea County is one of the longest elected political office holders in the state of Tennessee. She took office in 1962 from then Register of Deeds Marchie James. Ms. Webb is also a long time officer holder taking over from longtime Trustee Freddie Morgan in 2006. She has worked in the trustee's office for the past 27 years.
County Executive George Thacker, who is seeking his thind term, will be facing at least two persons in the non-partisan race. Dayton businessman and developer John Adam Sims along with Laura Travis are vying to take over the seat from incumbent Thacker.
All eight seats of the county commission are up for re-election as well as the odd number school districts.. The County Executive, County Commission and the School Board are all non-partisan offices and have until noon, April 5, to qualify.
Sheriff
I - Mike Neal (D)
Cary Taylor
Court Clerk
I - Jamie Holloway (D)
County Clerk
I - Linda Shaver (D)
Register of Deeds
I – Gladys Best (R)
James Nevans
Trustee
Neva Webb
County Executive
I – George Thacker