NEW TAZEWELL, Tenn. - Election Day is Thursday, August 3, but early voting for the election in Claiborne County began Friday and will extend through July 29 for over 100 candidates. Voters are deciding on offices ranging from the Republican and Democratic primaries to members of the Claiborne County School Board.

People can vote between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, according to Carolyn O'dell, the Election Administrator. The locations to vote at are the new Election Office at 1403 Tazewell Road (the old Vocational School) and the Harrogate City Hall at 7076 Cumberland Gap Parkway.

O'dell, new to her job, said she has no idea how voter turnout will be, but has been told that in the past, turnout has been about one-third of the total voters. The reason people vote early, she said, is because of the convenience.

“A lot of people like to take advantage of the process being quicker,” she said. People are able to vote depending on their schedules and, with the two voting locations, closer to their work or home.

With the Election Commission office at a new location, O'dell said they have a lot more room to store equipment, like voting machines and ballot boxes, that used to be stored in separate buildings. There will also be a new security system put up that will make the building more secure. O'dell said she is sorry for the inconvenience of the move, but has had positive feedback on the new building.

There are six offices up for election in the state primary elections. The candidates running for the Republican Primary Governor office are Mark Albertini, Wayne Thomas Bailey, Jim Bryson, David M. Farmer, Joe Kirkpatrick, Timothy Thomas and Wayne Young. Ed Bryant, Bob Corker, Tate Harrison and Van Hilleary are running for the United States Senate Primary. For the House of Representatives Primary, the candidates are June Griffin, Charles Howard, Doug Vandagriff and Zach Wamp. In the Tennessee House of Representatives Primary, the candidates are Rick Brewer, Dennis “Coach” Roach and Judi Runions Swilling. Henry (H.T.) Devault is running for the State Executive Committeeman Primary and Cecile Testerman is running for the State Executive Committeewoman Primary.

In the Democratic Governor Primary, Phil Bredesen, John Jay Hooker, Tim Sevier and Walt Ward are running. Gary G. Davis, Harold Ford, Jr., John Jay Hooker, Charles E. Smith, Al Strauss are running for the Senate Primary. The House of Representatives Primary, the candidates are Brent Benedict and Terry Stulce. Bill Roy Howerton and Bruce Seal are running for the State Executive Committeeman Primary and Tina Crownover, Joyce Hopson and Betty S. Watkins are running for the State Executive Committeewoman Primary.

In the General Election, John D. McAfee is running for the Eighth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge office. Billy Joe White is running for Chancellor. Shayne Sexton is running for Criminal Court Judge and Wm. Paul Phillips is running for District Attorney General. In the Public Defender race, the candidates are Leif Jeffers and Martha Yoakum.

Claiborne County Mayor is a hotly contested race, with Casey Anders, Steve Brogan, Joe Tyler Duncan, Virgil Herrell, Phillip Mabe, Travis Moody and Sam Owens running. Alice E. Alexander is running for County Trustee. In the General Sessions Judge race, the candidates are Robert Estep and Thomas Jackson Tabor, Jr.

There are several candidates for sheriff, with Brent Wood Clark, David Honeycutt, David Ray, Randy Richards, Eddie Shoffner, Bill Sowder and Ernie Womack all on the slate. Billy Ray Cheek is running for Circuit Court Clerk. Evelyn Hill is running for County Clerk. Kim Reece is running for Register.

The following candidates are on the ballot for County Commissioner:

First District: Bill Brooks, Steve Eldridge, Elizabeth Fugate, Brian Hubbard, Bethany Lester, Dean Neal and Barry Thomas.

Second District: Jerry Arnwine, Ronald England, Juanita Honeycutt, Bill Keck, Chester Keck and Claude Ramsey.

Third District: Glen Bowling, Otis Campbell, Franklin Essary, Wayne Lee, James McAnally and Shannon Surber.

Fourth District: Clyde Breeding, Jerry Brooks, Dennis Estes, and Jimmy Seals, Jr.

Fifth District: Mitchell Cosby and Terr Daniels

Sixth District: Rosemary Barnett, Mona Dotson, Tom Daugherty and Steve Mason.

Seventh District: John Adams, Ken Clark, Danny Longworth, Shawn Peters and Dutch Wolfenbarger.

Eighth District: Dennis Graves, Carlos Long and David Mundy.

Ninth District: James Hatmaker, Kathy Human and Larkie Mallicoat.

In the School Board races, D.J. “Hawk” Myers, Dorothy Patterson and Todd M. Stone are running in the First District. In the Second District, Bobby Drummonds is running. Cindy DeBusk and Bobby Williams are running in the Third District. In the Fifth District, Michelle Huddleston is running and Roy C. (Doc) Ellis, Jr. is running in the Sixth District.

Jessica Moore is a Contributing Writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at jrmoore.news@yahoo.com.