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By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

Voters in the Nov. 5 federal and general election go to the polls Tuesday to decide local, state, and federal offices after a record 14,753 Carter Countians voted early in person or by absentee ballot.

Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Tanner-Harris said the turnout was “wonderful with so many people wanting to have their voices heard,” many of whom were first-time voters. “I’m glad the younger generation is participating in this election,” she said by email. “I expect Election Day to break records as well. Very excited at the voter turnout so far.”

The previous early voting record was set in 2020 during the COVID pandemic when 12,167 people voted early or cast absentee ballots. The administrator recalled she had to count mail-in votes every day during that early voting period because so many people voted absentee due to COVID.

The driving force this year is likely the close presidential race between Republicans Donald J. Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, who are battling Democrats Kamala D. Harris and Tim Waltz. Others still on the presidential ballot include Independents Jay J. Bowman and De D. Bowman; Independent Claudia De La Cruz and Karina Garcia; Independents Rachele Fruit and Dennis Richter; Independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan; and Independent Jill Stein and Samson Lebeau Kpadenou.

Contested local races include seats on Elizabethton City Council and the race for municipal judge, the latter of which lately took an unexpected turn Monday when the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility temporarily suspended incumbent Jason Lee Holly’s law license for failing to answer three complaints alleging misconduct. The board’s chief disciplinary counsel, Sandy Garrett, told The Elizabethton Star that Holly was not suspended for any of the allegations, but because he failed to respond to the board. Garrett said the temporary suspension order allows Holly to continue representing existing clients for 30 days, but he cannot take on new clients.

In the race for city judge, Holly is facing Teresa Murray Smith, who held the post for three months in 2020 and was the city’s first female city judge. City Council elected Holly as interim city judge in February 2020, succeeding T.J. Little Jr., who died Dec. 28, 2019, leaving the city without a judge. Little had been in the post since 2007. The following August, Holly failed in a bid to fill Little’s unexpired term, losing to Smith. However, Holly defeated Smith in the November 2020 election.

City Council

Four candidates are vying for three City Council seats: Kim Birchfield (incumbent), Deb Gouge, Richard Tester, and Jeff Treadway (incumbent).

Birchfield is a retired law enforcement professional who was first elected in 2016. He serves on the Parks and Recreation Board, Surf Betsy Advisory Board, and 911 Emergency System Board. Birchfield previously served on the Elizabethton City School Board and has made unsuccessful runs for Carter County Sheriff.

Gouge is a retired educator seeking her first political seat. She served as Elizabethton High School’s fine arts chair and was choral director for 37 years. 

Tester previously served on City Council but was unseated in the 2018 midterm election. He served as board chairman of Carter County Tomorrow, which was dissolved in 2019.

Treadway serves on the Bonnie Kate Theatre Board, Historic Zoning Commission, and Main Street Board. Treadway was first elected to City Council in 2012.

State, Federal Legislative Races

In the race for the District 3 state House of Representative seat, Republican Timothy Aaron Hill is on the ballot against Democrat Lori Love. Both were unopposed in their respective primaries on Aug. 1. District 3 includes Johnson County and part of Carter, Hawkins, and Sullivan counties, including Blountville. 

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn, who has represented Tennessee since 2019, is on the ballot against Democrat Gloria Johnson, of Knoxville, who defeated three candidates in that party’s primary. Also on the ballot are Independents Tharon Chandler, Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses, and Hastina Robinson.

In the race for the 1st District U.S. House of Representatives seat, incumbent Republican Diana Harshbarger, who ran unopposed in the Republican Primary, is on the ballot against Democrat Kevin Jenkins, of Sneedville, who defeated Bennett H. Lapides, of Gatlinburg. Also seeking to unseat Harshbarger are two Independents, Richard G. Baker and Levi Brake.

Uncontested Races

Three candidates are running for three open seats in the city school board race: incumbent David Phil Isaacs, incumbent Jamie M. Schaff, and Elizabethton dentist Robert Wayne Lewis Jr.

Three incumbents are on the ballot for three open seats on the Watauga City Commission: Dennis G. Hicks, Richard D. McCracken, and Albert Mitchell Thomasson. 

Alone on the ballot is Renea Jones, who defeated longtime Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander in the bid for the 4th District seat in the state House of Representatives during the Aug. 1 Republican Primary, sending her to Nashville as there is no Democratic opposition. District 4 includes Unicoi County and part of Carter County.

Also alone on the ballot is Charlene Thomas, who is unopposed for the Carter County Commission 5th District seat.

One race is wide open for qualifying write-ins: the District 2 Constable position. 

Need to Know …

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. 

Two Election Day polling places have temporarily been changed: Hampton High School (Tiger Valley Precinct) will vote at Hampton Elementary, 408 US-321 Scenic, Hampton; and Elk Mills VFD (Elk Mills Precinct) will vote at Little Milligan Elementary, 4226 US-321, Butler.

Voters must bring a state of Tennessee or federal photo ID that includes any of the following photo IDs, even if expired: Tennessee driver’s license, U.S. passport, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, U.S. military ID, veteran identification card, Tennessee handgun carry permit, federal employee ID, or state employee ID.

Election Day 2024

• Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.
• A federally-issued or Tennessee state government-issued photo ID is now required to vote. College student IDs, or photo IDs issued by other states, counties, or cities, including library cards, will not be accepted.
• You can download a sample ballot for Carter County voters at tinyurl.com/Carter-Sample-Ballot-2024