Early voting begins | Independent Herald

HUNTSVILLE — Early voting for the Aug. 5 general election and state primaries is slated to begin tomorrow (Friday).

The two-week early voting period has become increasingly popular with voters since its inception in 1994. In the 2006 Scott County general election, more than half of the 8,200-plus who voted cast their ballots in a record-setting early voting period.

“We think it’s going to be busy,” Scott County Administrator of Elections Gabe Lowe said. “We have had three tents at the side of the road (placed by candidates) since Friday, so they’re going to be busy outside and we expect to be busy inside as well.”

Registered voters can cast ballots during the early voting period at either polling location, the Scott County Office Building or the Oneida Municipal Building.

A write-in campaign being waged by acting sheriff Bobby Ellis could prove to be a bit of a delay for voters at the polls.

“The write-in votes will take a lot of time,” Lowe said, adding that assistants will be on hand to help voters who intend to write in a candidate in any race.

“We can’t tell them how to spell the name, but we can show them how to get to the write-in screen,” Lowe said.

Ellis entered the race when Anthony Lay resigned his post to join the U.S. Marshal Service after the qualifying deadline had passed. Ellis served as chief deputy in Lay’s administration.

Oneida Chief of Police Mike Cross, former sheriff’s deputy Brad Lay, former sheriff Jim Carson, former sheriff’s deputy Brian Keeton and former jailer Doc Hall are also seeking election to the sheriff’s position.

The sheriff’s race is one of only two contested county-wide races. The other involves the race for county mayor, where incumbent Rick Keeton faces opposition from Oneida alderman Jeff Tibbals and Oneida businessman Harold Brooks in a repeat of the 2006 election. Oneida minister Ed King and First District politico Robert “Speedy” Blevins are also on the ballot.

District races include tightly-contested battles for the Second District’s two seats on County Commission and three seats on the Oneida Special School District Board of Education.

In the Second District, vying for the two open seats will be Darrell Boles, business owner Dickey Bertram (brother of retiring county commissioner Leonard Bertram), June Jeffers, South Scott Community Club President Sam Lyles, Linda Overton and Scott County EMS Director Jim Reed.

In Oneida, board of education incumbents Lori Phillips-Jones, Brom Shoemaker and Dorothy Hill Watson face opposition from Max Huff, Tommy Bell and Mark Matthews.

In other district races:

• First District County Commission: Michael Ray Byrd, David “Blue” Day, Wade Gunter, David R. Jeffers, Michael Massengale and Barney Moffitt will compete for two open seats being vacated by Odeva Byrd and Jeff Watson.

• Third District County Commission: Incumbent Ernest Phillips and challengers Greg “Podge” Burchfield, Curtis L. Carson, Angie King, Kris D. Lewallen and Kenneth R. Morrow seek seats currently held by Phillips and Daniel Murley.

• Fourth District County Commission: Incumbents Alan Reed and Dennis L. Sexton face opposition from Brian J. Armstrong, Jerry W. Byrge, Paul Honse and Terry M. Yancey.

• Fifth District County Commission: Incumbents Rothel “Tub” Cross and Paul C. Strunk face opposition from Harold L. Chambers, Carolyn Lay, Joe “Buster” Marlow, John L. Strunk and Wilburn Walker.

• Sixth District County Commission: Incumbents Ron Blevins and Gerry “Greasey” Garrett face opposition from challenger Donnie Bowlin.

• Seventh District County Commission: Incumbents Willie Boyatt and Mike Slaven face opposition from Paul Burke, Tommy R. Jeffers and Richard Bruce Slaven.

• Seventh District School Board: Bryon C. Foster, John Vernon Thompson and Raymond Thompson are seeking the seat of retiring board member Rodney West.

Early voting hours at each polling location are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.