With nearly half the votes cast early and 43.89% voter turnout, Johnson County voters made some important decisions for the town, the state, and the country.
The race for two alderman seats in the town of Mountain City was decided early when votes came in from the polling place at the high school. Ray Dowell held onto his seat, and Amelia Lopez-Saltarelli won her race, while Jason Panganiban came in third.
“I want the citizens to know they have a voice at the city council meetings,” Dowell said. “If they have any problems, no matter how little they think they might be, I will take it to the board for discussion.”
“I want to express my thanks and gratitude to all my supporters in our community for your efforts during my campaign,” Saltarelli said. “As alderman for the town of Mountain City I will continue working with the community to bring about community driven economic development that is good for our town. I will ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency with our tax dollars and grants. I will be available to our community for consultation and discussion on issues concerning our town. I promised to be a voice of the community and will continue to encourage public participation in our governance. Stay involved, and God Bless.”
“Thank you, Mountain City, for the opportunity to earn your support and share my vision for our community,” Panganiban said. “While this wasn’t the result I hoped for, I respect the voters’ decision and congratulate the ones who were elected. My commitment to Mountain City doesn’t end with this election. I’ll continue working to make our town stronger, safer, and more prosperous for everyone.”
Saltarelli will join Dowell, Celeste Dunn, and Jerry Horne on the Board of Aldermen at a time when the town of Mountain City is facing infrastructure problems, reduced revenue, a deteriorating downtown, and the thorny issue of data centers.
Working outward, Republican incumbent Timothy Hill easily defeated Democratic candidate Lori Love for the second time, receiving 81.37% of the vote in Johnson County to represent District 3 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Districtwide, Hill received 75% of the vote.
Incumbent state Sen. Rusty Crowe (R) ran unopposed to represent District 3 in the Tennessee Senate, so he will also return to Nashville.
Incumbent Diana Harshbarger, a Republican, also defeated her Democratic challenger, Kristi Burke, with 76.6% of the vote in Johnson County and will return to Washington as a member of Tennessee’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing District 1. Districtwide, Harshbarger received 69.7% of the vote.
Incumbent Republican Bill Hagerty defeated Democrat Marquita Bradshaw for the second time, receiving 78.6% of the vote in Johnson County, and will return to Washington as one of Tennessee’s two U.S. senators. Statewide, Hagerty received 55.5% of the vote.
In the governor’s race, Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Greene, with a strong assist from independent candidate David Hatley, gave current Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn a significant challenge. Blackburn won with 45.6% of the vote in Johnson County, with Greene receiving 42.9% and Hatley picking up 9.2%.
Three amendments to the Tennessee Constitution were also approved by voters last night.
Amendment One, which increases the number of offenses for which a defendant cannot receive bail, passed with 78.3% of the vote in Johnson County and 67% statewide.
Amendment Two, which prohibits the state legislature from imposing a statewide property tax, also passed with 71% of the vote in Johnson County and 66.4% statewide.
Amendment Three, the so-called Marsy’s Law, which codifies additional rights for crime victims during criminal proceedings, passed in Johnson County with 81.5% of the vote and statewide with 75.9%.
So, now we go forward. The democratic process has given us some new leaders, and it has returned some to represent us again. Let the work begin.
