Roy Exum
The primary election in the 2022 Hamilton County race is still over two months away and the candidates have obviously not had a chance to utter anything significant. My goodness, qualifying just ended yesterday and not up until now have we had a solid field. But in the way of thoroughbred racing, we now have matchups and welcome to “The Morning Line.”
This is to say we know little-to-nothing about the candidates but in the best efforts of gamesmanship, here's how I predict the outcome of the May 3 election based on the ‘horses’ now gathered in the paddock. C’mon, this is just for fun, and in the next two months there will be plenty said and preached to extol those running for office this year.
Most eyes are focused on a colossal race for county mayor with three spectacular bidders for the role Jim Coppinger has handled adroitly before deciding to excuse himself. It is widely agreed that the likeable Coppinger would have been successful in a quest for another term but when he chose not to run, a triumvirate of three stars emerged.
The forerunner is Matt Hullander, the son of longtime and highly respected public servant Bill Hullander, while the challenger is Sabrena Smedley, now the head of the County Commission with a wealth of knowledge. In an imaginative third place in the early polls is youthful Weston Wamp. With what is expected to be fierce campaigning, this race should be … no, it will be a dilly.
So, if the election was held this afternoon, here’s how I predict the finish on the first day of the race:
* * *
The Morning Line
COUNTY MAYOR -- Matt Hullander (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, District 1 - Randy Fairbanks (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, District 2 – Chip Baker (R) unopposed
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, District 3 -- Greg Martin (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 4 -- Warren Mackey (D) unopposed.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 5 – Greg Beck (D)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 6 – Ruth Jeno (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 7 – Lee Helton (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 8 – Mike Chauncey (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 9 – Steve Highlander (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 10 – Dean Moorhouse (R) or Jeff Eversole (R)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 11 - Joe Graham (R)
- - -
SCHOOL BOARD District 3 - Joe Smith (R)
SCHOOL BOARD District 5 -- Charles Paty (R)
SCHOOL BOARD District 6 - Jon Baker (R), Delores Gross Vinson (R ) or Cindy Fain (R)
SCHOOL BOARD District 8 --Sandy Norris Smith (D)
SCHOOL BOARD District 9 -- James Walker (R)
SCHOOL BOARD District 10 -- Roddey Coe (R), Patrick Lee (R), or Faye Robinson (R)
SCHOOL BOARD District 11 -- Virginia Anne Manson (R)
- - -
SHERIFF -- Austin Garrett (R) Unopposed
- - -
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
Division 1 - J B Bennett (R)
Division 2 - Mike Dumitru (R)
Division 3 - Marie Williams (R)
Division 4 - Kyle Hedrick (R)
- - -
CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE
Division 1 - Barry Steelman (R)
Division 2 - Tom Greenholtz (R)
Division 3 - Boyd Patterson (R)
- - -
CITY COURT JUDGE
Division 1 - Sherry Paty
- - -
JUVENILE COURT JUDGE
Rob Philyaw (R) Unopposed
- - -
HAMILTON COUNTY COURT CLERK
Bill Knowles (R)
- - -
JUVENILE COURT CLERK
Gary Behler (R) unopposed
- - -
CHANCELLOR
Part 1 - Pam McNutt Fleenor (R) unopposed
Part 2 - Jeffrey Atherton (R) unopposed
- - -
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
Larry Henry (R) unopposed
- - -
REGISTER OF DEEDS
Marc Gravitt (R) unopposed
- - -
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Neal Pinkston (R)
- - -
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Steve Smith (R) unopposed
- - -
COUNTY TRUSTEE
Bill Hullander (R) unopposed
* * *
royexum@aol.com