Newcomer Gouge, incumbents Birchfield, Treadway win City Council seats
Published 12:03 am Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Buzz Trexler / Star Correspondent Campaign signs for candidates in the 2024 election line the fence outside the boundary marker Tuesday at the 7th District precinct at West Side Elementary School, 1300 Burgie St., Elizabethton.
Buzz Trexler / Star Correspondent A voter enters the 7th District precinct Tuesday at West Side Elementary School, 1300 Burgie St., Elizabethton.
Buzz Trexler / Star Correspondent Supporters of Jason Holly’s campaign for Elizabethton municipal judge stand outside the boundary marker Tuesday at the 7th District precinct at West Side Elementary School, 1300 Burgie St., Elizabethton.
Buzz Trexler / Star Correspondent Campaign signs for candidates in the 2024 election are positioned outside the boundary marker Tuesday at the 4th District precinct at Carter County Courthouse, 801 Elk Ave., Elizabethton.
Buzz Trexler / Star Correspondent A provisional ballot security bag awaits such ballots Tuesday at the 2nd District precinct at Cloudland Elementary School, 8540 U.S. 19E, Roan Mountain.
Buzz Trexler / Star Correspondent Poll workers Sandra Monger (left) and Rita Jackson work the ballot table Tuesday at the 2nd District precinct at Cloudland Elementary School, 8540 U.S. 19E, Roan Mountain.
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By Buzz Trexler and Lynn Richardson
Star Correspondents
Voters returned two incumbents and added a retired city educator to the Elizabethton City Council in Tuesday’s general election.
“I’m just honored to represent the city that raised me and employed me,” said Deb Gouge, who led the ticket for one of three open seats. “I don’t have an agenda; I just want to give back.”
Gouge, who served as Elizabethton High School’s fine arts chair and was choral director for 37 years, garnered 3,187 votes in her first political campaign. She retired from the city school system at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
“We have a lot of work to do as we recover from the flood, and we also need to rebuild among ourselves,” she said. “We can’t remain fractured; we have to work together.”
“I really had no idea it would go like this,” Gouge added. “We worked hard, and I feel blessed to be part of this.”
Gouge admitted she has been prepping for the work ahead, just in case she was elected, and has already read the entire Elizabethton City Charter. “Just a little light reading,” she said jokingly.
“When I went to tell my mom that I was running and asked her to sign my qualifying papers, she told me I was living one of her dreams,” Gouge said. “Her dad was on the County Court, and she said she had always wanted to do what I’m about to do.”
“So now, it’s just time to get to work,” she said. “We can do a lot of good in this town when we all stand together.”
Though physical limitations made campaigning difficult this year, incumbent Kim Birchfield was successful in his reelection bid, netting 2,719 votes.
“This election has been a challenge,” Birchfield said. “The last four months I’ve been down with a broken femur, and I wasn’t able to get out and campaign like I would have wanted to. But I knew if the people were satisfied with me, they would vote for me; if they didn’t, I’d accept it and just stay home.
“I appreciate my family and friends and all the citizens who were behind me, and I will do the very best job for them for the next four years that I can,” he said. “I do not forget to give God the glory for this campaign. It was His and not mine.”
Incumbent Jeff Treadway, who received 2,334 votes, likewise expressed appreciation for being returned to City Council.
“I am honored and grateful that the voters of Elizabethton have chosen to return me for another term on your City Council,” he said. “We have several beneficial projects underway, and I will work diligently to see them completed for the benefit of our beautiful and special part of God’s creation.”
Treadway serves on the Bonnie Kate Theatre Board, Historic Zoning Commission, and Main Street Board. He was first elected to City Council in 2012.
“I look forward to working with our new councilwoman and with all others,” Treadway said. “I sincerely appreciate all who ran for public office and their willingness to put themselves ‘in the ring’ to work for the good of all our citizens. God bless.”
Richard Tester, who previously served on the City Council but was unseated in the 2018 midterm election, received 2,128 votes. He served as board chairman of Carter County Tomorrow, which was dissolved in 2019.
The new City Council members will be sworn in at noon Nov. 26 at City Hall, 136 S. Sycamore St., and the council will meet immediately afterward to elect the new mayor and mayor pro tem.
Mayor Curt Alexander chose not to seek another term after serving 20 years on City Council, 18 of those as city mayor. Alexander unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the state House District 4 race in the August primary.
