8/7/2008 - Hammond Coasts To Win In Sheriff's Race - Breaking News

the chattanoogan.com - chattanooga's source for breaking local news

August 30, 2008

Hammond Coasts To Win In Sheriff's Race
Baker, Matthews, Mosley Win School Board; Cobb Holds Seat
posted August 7, 2008

Photo by Wesley Schultz
Democrat Greg Beck, who came up short in his sheriff bid, is comforted by Brenda Nunn

Republican candidate Jim Hammond won the Hamilton County sheriff's race by a wide margin in Thursday's special election. After failing twice to win the office as a Democrat, the former chief deputy to Sheriff H.Q. Evatt sailed into office this time.

Former House District 31 Rep. Jim Vincent won over incumbent Jim Cobb in Hamilton County, but Rep. Cobb piled up a big margin in his home Rhea County to take the win. Both are Republicans.

The total result was:
Jim Cobb 3,533
Jim Vincent 2,591

Mr. Vincent won 1,938 to 909 in Hamilton County, but Rep. Cobb won Rhea County 2,644 to 553.

For School Board District 2, incumbent Chip Baker had a narrow lead early over Dr. Joe Dumas, then Dumas pulled ahead. Later, Chip Baker was back in front and he continued to build his lead.

Incumbent Debra Matthews held off Gregg Juster in the District 4 School Board contest.

For District 7 School Board, Linda Mosley won over Michael Dzik.
Joe Conner did not seek re-election to the post.

Oscar Brown of Marion County won over Basil Marceaux in the Republican primary for the 10th Senate post. He will face Sen. Andy Berke in the general election.

Rhonda Thurman, who was unopposed for School Board District 1, said she was "very, very disappointed" that members of her "Back on Track" team (Dumas and Juster) had lost.

She said, "The school board will be different because the great pooh-bah, Joe Conner, will be gone. Linda Mosley won that seat and whatever she does has to be better than what he did."

She said, "Judging from the results of the election, the people who live around Howard evidently like their schools exactly the way they are so I don’t want to hear any more complaining out of them."

Ms. Thurman added, "Signal Mountain organized to protect its turf and evidently will continue to dictate to Red Bank how things are going to be.

"But at least I think Chip Baker knows now where Red Bank is. I saw him down there today waving a sign."

Joe Dumas said, “It’s disappointing to me that we didn’t win, but worse for all the supporters who came out and worked so hard and gave me a real chance to win.

“I feel like we did everything we could do. It’s always hard to unseat a two-term incumbent, but we took the fight to them. Without all the great support I got, I probably would have gotten about 30 percent of the vote. Thanks to their help we wound up losing 55-45 percent, which is good. We were actually ahead at one point.

“I hope my opponent will take it to heart that almost half of the people in his district have serious problems with the way he’s been handling his position, and make some changes.”

Ms. Matthews, veteran school board member, said, "The truth will always prevail - no matter how deep in the mud you get."

Mr. Juster said, "The people got the wool pulled over their eyes. This shows that the people get what they deserve."

Mr. Hammond, who has been training officers in the Middle East in recent years, said he had expected "to fade into the dust" after returning to Chattanooga, then was plunged into the race after former Sheriff Billy Long was arrested on federal charges.

He said, "I want to put the officers' minds at ease and put the icing on a great department with new leadership."

Sheriff
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 29349
Greg Beck 7752 26.41%
Jim Hammond 17363 59.16%
Tim Akins 401 1.37%
Jim Winters 3094 10.54%
Write-in Votes 739 2.52%

School Board District 2
Number of Precincts 27
Precincts Reporting 26 96.3 %
Total Votes 5189
Chip Baker 2863 55.17%
Joe Dumas 2316 44.63%
Write-in Votes 10 0.19%

School Board District 4
Number of Precincts 23
Precincts Reporting 22 95.7 %
Total Votes 2278
Gregg Juster 918 40.30%
Debra L. Matthews 1256 55.14%
Kenneth Simpson 96 4.21%
Write-in Votes 8 0.35%

School Board District 7
Number of Precincts 19
Precincts Reporting 18 94.7 %
Total Votes 3638
Kevin Burke II 148 4.07%
Michael Dzik 1425 39.17%
Linda Mosley 2060 56.62%
Write-in Votes 5 0.14%

House District 31
Number of Precincts 18
Precincts Reporting 17 94.4 %
Total Votes 2853
Jim Cobb 909 31.86%
Jim Vincent 1938 67.93%
Write-in Votes 6 0.21%

Here are complete Hamilton County returns with 133 of 135 precincts reporting:

US Senate - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 8111

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark E. Clayton 1051 12.96%
Gary G. Davis 3395 41.86%
Kenneth Eaton 679 8.37%
Leonard D. Ladner 200 2.47%
Wm Mike Padgett 987 12.17%
Robert D. Tuke 1685 20.77%
Write-in Votes 114 1.41%

US Senate - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 16296

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lamar Alexander 16108 98.85%
Write-in Votes 188 1.15%

3rd Congressional Dist - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 7300

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doug Vandagriff 7187 98.45%
Write-in Votes 113 1.55%

3rd Congressional Dist - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 17187

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Teresa Sheppard 1224 7.12%
Zach Wamp 15921 92.63%
Write-in Votes 42 0.24%

Senate 10 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 73
Precincts Reporting 72 98.6 %
Total Votes 5360

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andy Berke 5322 99.29%
Write-in Votes 38 0.71%

Senate 10 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 73
Precincts Reporting 72 98.6 %
Total Votes 2896

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oscar Brown 2168 74.86%
Basil Marceaux, Sr. 685 23.65%
Write-in Votes 43 1.48%

House 26 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 28
Precincts Reporting 26 92.9 %
Total Votes 58

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-in Votes 58 100.00%

House 26 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 28
Precincts Reporting 26 92.9 %
Total Votes 2634

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gerald McCormick 2613 99.20%
Write-in Votes 21 0.80%

House 27 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 37
Precincts Reporting 36 97.3 %
Total Votes 105

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-in Votes 105 100.00%

House 27 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 37
Precincts Reporting 36 97.3 %
Total Votes 4072

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard L. Floyd 4030 98.97%
Write-in Votes 42 1.03%

House 28 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 31
Precincts Reporting 30 96.8 %
Total Votes 2484

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tommie F. Brown 2461 99.07%
Write-in Votes 23 0.93%

House 28 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 31
Precincts Reporting 30 96.8 %
Total Votes 34

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-in Votes 34 100.00%

House 29 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 36
Precincts Reporting 35 97.2 %
Total Votes 2282

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JoAnne Favors 2245 98.38%
Write-in Votes 37 1.62%

House 29 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 36
Precincts Reporting 35 97.2 %
Total Votes 975

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basil Marceaux, Jr. 928 95.18%
Write-in Votes 47 4.82%

House 30 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 25
Precincts Reporting 24 96.0 %
Total Votes 93

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-in Votes 93 100.00%

House 30 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 25
Precincts Reporting 24 96.0 %
Total Votes 3190

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vince Dean 3157 98.97%
Write-in Votes 33 1.03%

House 31 - Dem Dem
Total
Number of Precincts 18
Precincts Reporting 17 94.4 %
Total Votes 92

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-in Votes 92 100.00%

House 31 - Rep Rep
Total
Number of Precincts 18
Precincts Reporting 17 94.4 %
Total Votes 2853

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim Cobb 909 31.86%
Jim Vincent 1938 67.93%
Write-in Votes 6 0.21%

Assessor of Property
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 23138

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Bennett - Rep 22698 98.10%
Write-in Votes 440 1.90%

Sheriff
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 29349

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greg Beck 7752 26.41%
Jim Hammond 17363 59.16%
Tim Akins 401 1.37%
Jim Winters 3094 10.54%
Write-in Votes 739 2.52%

School Board 1
Total
Number of Precincts 24
Precincts Reporting 23 95.8 %
Total Votes 3336

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhonda S. Thurman 3220 96.52%
Write-in Votes 116 3.48%

School Board 2
Total
Number of Precincts 27
Precincts Reporting 26 96.3 %
Total Votes 5189

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chip Baker 2863 55.17%
Joe Dumas 2316 44.63%
Write-in Votes 10 0.19%

School Board 4
Total
Number of Precincts 23
Precincts Reporting 22 95.7 %
Total Votes 2278

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gregg Juster 918 40.30%
Debra L. Matthews 1256 55.14%
Kenneth Simpson 96 4.21%
Write-in Votes 8 0.35%

School Board 7
Total
Number of Precincts 19
Precincts Reporting 18 94.7 %
Total Votes 3638

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin Burke II 148 4.07%
Michael Dzik 1425 39.17%
Linda Mosley 2060 56.62%
Write-in Votes 5 0.14%

Lookout Mtn Comm.
Total
Number of Precincts 10
Precincts Reporting 9 90.0 %
Total Votes 1248

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greg Brown 274 21.96%
Daniel M. Crates 238 19.07%
Edward L. Mitchell 230 18.43%
Will Moses 239 19.15%
Carol A. Mutter 250 20.03%
Write-in Votes 17 1.36%

Lookout Mtn School Brd
Total
Number of Precincts 10
Precincts Reporting 9 90.0 %
Total Votes 769

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

James M. Haley 256 33.29%
Grant Law 261 33.94%
Sherry M. Pollock 248 32.25%
Write-in Votes 4 0.52%

William C. Koch
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 22597

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 18652 82.54%
NO 3945 17.46%

Gary R. Wade
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 22210

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 18309 82.44%
NO 3901 17.56%

Andy Bennett
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 22202

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 18617 83.85%
NO 3585 16.15%

Richard H. Dinkins
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 21765

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 17734 81.48%
NO 4031 18.52%

Steve Stafford
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 21626

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 17939 82.95%
NO 3687 17.05%

D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 21565

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 18001 83.47%
NO 3564 16.53%

Camille R. McMullen
Total
Number of Precincts 135
Precincts Reporting 133 98.5 %
Total Votes 21522

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES 17858 82.98%
NO 3664 17.02%

Photo by Michael Locke
Jim Hammond waves to supporters after winning the sheriff's race. Click to enlarge.

Email this to a friend

Other Breaking News

Opinion

Sports

Happenings