MORE INFORMATION ON THE PRIMARY RACES
The primary election originally scheduled for May 19 has been postponed until June 9. The voter registration deadline is now May 11, and early voting will begin May 18.
The winner of the Republican primary race between Robert Blakemore and James “Jim” Hill will face off against Democrat Bobby McDonald in the general election for the District 1 seat. The winner of the Republican primary race between Mark Askew and Marcus Veazey will face off against Democrat Tyrone Davis in the general election for the District 2 seat. Republican Brian Hart and Democrat Hakie Shropshire will face off in the general election for the District 3 seat. Daryl Massey, Mike Nowlin, Alan Painter, Alan Slaven and Robert Stultz will vie for the District 4 seat in the Republican primary. Matt Harris, Perry Lamb and Shannon Whitfield, current sole commissioner, will vie for the commission chairperson seat in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidates qualified for either the District 4 or chairperson seats. tise to drive county government costs lower, to protect farmers and agribusiness by being “a loud voice for strong right to farm laws,” to restripe roads to increase safety for motorists and to work with state agencies towards upgrading the stop signs with red LEDs at the intersection of Highways 341 and 193 and to hold community meetings to gain input for other locations.
Massey
“To all my supporters I am humbled by this experience, and I truly appreciate all the citizens who supported me through this process,” Massey said after the election. “To my volunteers, you all are amazing people who will be my friends for life. Thank you all so much for your tireless efforts.
“This (campaign) has been one of the best experiences of my life,” he said. “I have built some outstanding relationships, and I am impressed even more than ever before with the people of Walker County.”
Massey thanked Stultz and Painter for their clean and professional campaigns, congratulated them earning enough votes to make it into the runoff and wished them luck.
Massey said he has more than 40 years of business experience, with leadership and management responsibilities for multi-million dollar operations, as well as owns and operates a cattle farm on Lookout Mountain.
Concerns and goals he expressed included improving communication for District 4 residents, creating share groups/relationships with other counties to identify best practices to improve county operations and efficiencies, continuing to work toward balancing the budget, growing new business to bring in additional tax revenue for the county and continuing to support and review fire, police and emergency protection services.
Massey also shared his goal to build “collaborative and cooperative relationships with all board members by creating a four-year plan to track all decisions” made during their terms of office.
Nowlin
Nowlin said he thanks his supporters, congratulates the winners in the race and wants to tell everyone “God bless.”
He drives a truck for a living and has logged 3.6 million safe miles during his career, he said. Before trucking, he worked in road building and construction for a decade.
“My concerns for our county are roads, growth and taxes,” he said during the campaign. “I feel we could have better judgment in these areas and more. I want to be a voice for our district and their con
“In a million years I would not have thought the results would be what they are. I have searched for answers but I come up empty,” Slaven wrote on his Facebook page, acknowledging he is disappointed but not discouraged by the election results.
“I am very disappointed for I had great visions for District 4. I will continue to pray for our leaders in our county government. I have developed great friendships with so many in this race and I pray the friendship continues.”
He appreciated the support and votes he received, he said.
Slaven’s work experience included a 33-year career with PepsiCo, where he held positions in sales management and customer relations management, and as an independent account owner, he doubled the profits and revenues within five years and then sold the business.
“If I am elected to District 4 commissioner, I don’t want to be a politician,” he said during the campaign. “I want to be a leader of the community. I want ideas and suggestions. I want to work together. I want to be part of the community.”