More than 10,000 registered voters took the opportunity to cast their ballots early; however, candidates will have to wait until Thursday evening to find out if they will hold positions in local government.
Nearly 1,000 people voted Saturday, bringing the total early vote to 10,775.
Of those, Republican Primary for federal and state positions, tallied a total of 9,549 to Democratic Primary ballots of 983.
Two satellites sites, Blythe-Bower Elementary School and Bradley Square Mall, and the Bradley County Elections Office were set up to encourage voters to vote early. The Bradley Square site was most utilized.
Bradley County Election Commission members are seeking a new site to replace the Blythe-Bower site, which has the lowest early voting count.
They are expected to continue their search after this election cycle.
On Thursday, those who chose not to vote early will be visiting one of 17 precincts to cast their ballots for Bradley County Sheriff’s position, city and county school board, some city council and county commission seats along with others and governors race, congressional choices and committee person positions are on the six-page ballot.
Still to be determined is the county mayor’s seat with incumbent Republican D. Gary Davis facing off with Democrat Paul Krisle and Independent Erin Fuller.
Also to be determined in the elections is the District 2 County Commission seat.
Louie Alford (R) and Connie Wilson (R), both incumbents, are challenged by Pam Edgemon, (D). Two will be chosen to represent the district.
The District 3 seat County Commission seat is also to be determined.
Currently, only one incumbent is in the race for the seat. Brian Smith and Tommy Anderson, both Republican candidates, will vie for the seat and face Democrat candidate Jeff D. Morelock.
- Bill Ledford and Jeff Yarber, Republicans, will face Democrat Mark Neeley in the District 5 race for County Commission.
- Donald Caywood will be running as an Independent in the District 6 County Commission race, facing Robert Rominger and incumbent, Mel Griffith.
- In the 7th District, Mark Hall and Bill Winters will garner votes for the seat.
- In the governor’s race, Zach Wamp, Bill Haslam, Basil Marceaux Sr., Ron Ramsey, are on the Republican ticket while Mike McWherter is the only Democrat in the running. Fourteen Independents are listed on the Tennessee Elections Commission Web site as candidates.
- In the 3rd District Congressional race which has 11 Republicans including current Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble, Cleveland businessman Art Rhodes, Robin Smith, Van Irion, Chuck Fleishmann and others.
- Democrats on the State Primary ticket include Chattanooga attorney John Wolfe, Brenda Freeman Short, Mark DeVol and others. Six independents are in battle for the 3rd Congressional seat vacated by Zach Wamp.
- Candidates preparing for the State Primary are; Eric Watson (R) District 22 House of Representatives and Kevin D. Brooks (R) District 24 House of Representatives.
- Lou Patten (R) and Mike Bell, (R) Tennessee Senate District 9 election.
- Ralph Dan Howell, John S. Stanbery, Linda Dugan and Emily G. Beaty for Republican State Executive Committee. Sally D. Love, Democrat State Executive Committee.
- Walter Goode and Tony L. Whitener for Charleston Council.
- Floyd Wade and Charlie M. McKenzie for Cleveland City Council District 1.
- William Estes, Cleveland City Council 2.
- Richard Lee Banks, Cleveland Council at Large.
- Tom Rowland, the incumbent city mayor, will face Anthony Owenby.
- Dawn Robinson, Cleveland School Board District 3.
- Peggy Pesterfield, Cleveland School Board District 4.
- Thomas Cloud, Cleveland School Board District 5.
- Richard J. Shaw, Cleveland School Board At-Large.
- Hal O. Taylor, William T. Bates and Vicki Jan Beaty, Richard McAlister, Bradley County School Board District 2.
- David Crane and Troy Weathers, Bradley County School Board District 4.
- Garry N. (Nathan) Headrick, Christine Critchfield and Barry L. Phillips, Bradley County School Board District 6.
For additional information, visit www.clevelandbanner.com and click on the Bradley County Elections link.
