Sheriff Race, School Board Contests Are Featured
posted August 7, 2008
Voting was very light as a small percentage of eligible Hamilton County voters went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new sheriff and choose several school board members.
By 4 p.m., only 150 people had voted at one of the larger East Ridge precincts.
There had only been 8,059 ballots cast in early voting.
Five candidates are seeking to replace former Sheriff Billy Long, who is in jail after his arrest by the FBI. His chief deputy, Allen Branum, has been serving in his place.
Jim Hammond, who ran twice as a Democrat, is on the Republican ticket. County Commissioner Greg Beck is the Democratic candidate, and Jim Winters and Tim Akins are Independents. Fred Fuson is a write-in candidate.
Dr. Joe Dumas is trying to unseat Chip Baker on the school board for District 2, while Michael Dzik and Linda Mosley are running for the District 7 seat being vacated by Joe Conner. Gregg Juster is trying to win over incumbent Debra Matthews in District 4.
Dr. Dumas and Mr. Juster are running along with unopposed incumbent Rhonda Thurman as a "Back on Track" team.
Former House Distric 31 Rep. Jim Vincent is trying to win his old seat from Rep. Jim Cobb of Rhea County. Both are Republicans.
Election officials said the voting was going smoothly except for a morning incident at the Harrison 2 precinct.
Officials said a voter wondered aloud who to vote for in the sheriff's election, and a female poll worker said, "Vote for Jim Hammond."
The remark was overheard by a Fuson supporter, and the election office was called.
The poll worker was sent home.
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