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Candidates make their pitch at senior center




Candidates make their pitch at senior center

Candidates make their pitch at senior center

The second biannual All-Candidate Forum took place at the Ashland City Senior Center on Thursday, July 19, with 20 candidates on hand, as well as two representatives for candidates who were unable to attend.

The emcee for the non-partisan event was Roger Marriott of the Cheatham County Democratic Party executive committee, the group that organized the event.

County Mayor

All three candidates for mayor – Pam Jones, Dan Henderson and Kerry McCarver, who was appointed mayor last year following the death of David McCullough, were in attendance.

Jones spoke about the welfare of senior citizens, citing an incident with a woman who was living on a diet of dog food. She also expressed her concerns that county government is raising taxes and overspending.

Henderson said he wants the county to grow in a way that maintains what has attracted residents to Cheatham County – the rural feel and not being overcrowded like other places.

Henderson added that he did not see industry growth as being necessary for development, citing small and medium sized businesses as being the backbone of the economy.

McCarver provided an overview of his experience in politics as Mayor of Pleasant View, where he said the town had zero debt in his tenure, and his time as county mayor since July 1, 2017.

McCarver ticked off a list of recent accomplishments including the purchase of Sycamore Square for relocation of county offices and the new archives that are up and running.

County Commission

Two commissioners will be elected from each district.

District 1: Candidates David Anderson, Gary Binkley (incumbent) and Cal Blacker spoke while Janet Knight was not in attendance.

“One thing that’s important to me is that our students have everything they need to succeed,” said Anderson, noting that his wife is a teacher at Ashland City Elementary School and that he loves Cheatham County and Ashland City. He cited his Facebook page, “Faces and Places of Cheatham County” as evidence of his community support. He also cited taking care of senior citizens as a top priority.

Cal Blacker noted his service in the Army, following in his father’s footsteps.

“We raised two daughters through our schools here,” Blacker said. “I’m currently working as Cheatham County’s maintenance and transportation director for the Cheatham County School District since 2012.”

He cited safety in schools as a key priority adding that smart growth and infrastructure are critical to growth as well as maintaining a healthy balance between industry and rooftops.

Binkley initially served on the commission in District 4 and again in District 1 after redistricting. He is chair for the business development committee and for capital improvements for Cheatham County.  He is a general contractor and has been an associate professor at Nashville State for 28 years.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is working on a new park plan for the river bottom,” Binkley said regarding 220 acres purchased from A.O. Smith next to Riverbluff Park.

District 2: Candidate Jack Sanders and incumbent Tim Williamson were present but incumbent Ann Jarreau was not.

Williamson said that he supports the construction of a new senior center, however he added that as part of the budget committee he recognizes there are funding challenges.

“If we could afford it, I would support it (a bigger senior center),” said Williamson.

Sanders spoke about being dyslexic with a speech impediment and having been successful because of the education he received from good teachers.

He is an advocate for recycling to generate funds for the county and added, “I think the youth of this county needs more support for things to do.”

District 3: Incumbent Connie Mayo and candidate Chris Gilmore were both at the forum while Rick Wilson was not.

“This is a hard job,” Mayo said. “The reason I’m running again is because my work here is not done.” She said she is looking forward to seeing the county archives thrive and wants to see the issues with the county jail addressed successfully.

Cheatham County Schools Resource Office director Gilmore said that it’s important to plan ahead and address needs in a timely fashion.

“We’ve got to stop putting off to pass the buck to generations that are coming up,” Gilmore said.

District 4: Longtime commissioner and current chairman Donnie Jordan spoke while incumbent Walter Weakley and Sandra (Red) Gregory were not present at the forum.

“I’m going on close to 60 years in this county,” Jordan said, citing service as a teacher and superintendent for Cheatham County schools.

Jordan said litter as a key issue to address by reviving convenience centers and restructuring the way taxes are collected for the landfills.

District 5: On hand for District 5 were incumbent Diana Pike-Lovell and Jody Vann. Incumbent Gene Evans was not present.

Pike-Lovell asked to take questions rather than offer a prepared speech.

“I hope that we have some businesses coming to Pegram,” she said. “We need a grocery store desperately. We need some restaurants that will stay busy. We don’t really have any right now.”

She added that she is running for re-election because she went in knowing nothing about the job but has learned a lot in the past four years.

“I feel like I listened to my constituents and I listed to the facts, and I try to make good decisions based on those two things.”

Vann lives on River Road and grew up in the New Hope area and noted that he worked with the fire department and ambulance service for years.

He conveyed a willingness to learn and grow as a commissioner.

“This will be a learning curve for me, if elected,” Vann said. “I don’t have a whole lot of answers. I have a whole lot of ideas.”

He credits vocational class as helping him get through school.

District 6: Aram K. Gupta, a 12-year resident of Kingston Springs, addressed those in attendance while candidates Randy Liles and Ed Greer were not present.

“I’m running for this office because like many people I do not feel my voice has been heard,” Gupta said. “A few issues I have a passion for are inmate rehabilitation, animal welfare and recycling. If I was elected as county commissioner, I would encourage everyone to share ideas and solutions in order to affect outcomes based on our collective intellectual capital and experience.”

School Board

In the school board race for District 1, Christina Gilliam and Matt Waldron are facing off for the seat and both participated in the forum.

“I attend school board meetings and workshops and ask tough questions,” Gilliam said. “I’m prepared to work hard for you as the District school board member from day one. I think it’s important to meet the needs of all students, whether your child is a typical developing child or your child has advanced needs.”

Gilliam is the vice-president of Cheatham County Kids, Inc. She is also a leader for American Heritage Girls and is a member of the Civitan.

Waldron said that his family moved to Cheatham County from Giles County in the late 1960s.

“I’m invested in this community,” Waldron said. “I’ve been serving this community in emergency services for 21 years. I feel like Cheatham County is on the cusp of some really great things.”

Waldron is an advocate of community sports in addition to school sports with proper payment for use of facilities.

Trustee

In the race to replace longtime Cheatham County Trustee Dot Jones, Margie Jarrell and Randy Walker shared their views and experience.

Walker said that while he is not a Cheatham County native, he has chosen to live in the county for 39 years so far.

“I have raised a family here and have built a business here,” Walker said. “I have run for this office three times.”

He noted that he has been mentored by trustees twice from other counties.

Jarrell is a lifelong resident of Cheatham County and has worked alongside current Trustee Jones as a bookkeeper for many years.

“Presently I handled $107 million for 2017,” she said. “That’s funds that’s going out, working with all of the county departments. I really enjoy working with the people because you get to know them and learn their likes and dislikes. And there are a lot of people in this county who need help with tax relief.”

State Senate

The race for State Senate District 25 will take place in November between Democrat Wade Munday and Republican incumbent Kerry Roberts. Munday attended the forum and Debbie Keenan stood in for Roberts. District 25 covers five counties – Cheatham, Dickson, Robertson, Hickman and Humphries.

Munday, who is a graduate of Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School, said that he was the first person in his family to go to college because of his father’s federal job with a pension, which helped to provide that opportunity.

His platform offers support for Veterans benefits, Medicaid expansion and full funding for the state’s public schools system.

“It’s about arming students and teachers with knowing right from wrong,” he said, countering the proposal to arm teachers with guns for protection and school safety.

Keenan spoke on behalf of Roberts, who is on the board of the Bransford Foundation in Robertson County, an organization that provides afterschool and summer programs for underprivileged children.

“He’s helped people struggling through TennCare,” Keenan said. “He’s helped Veterans with getting benefits that have been denied, as well as helping the elderly who are losing their snap cards for food and groceries.”

Keenan added that Roberts has helped pass bills generating $4.5 million for Cheatham County Schools and $68.4 million for various transportation projects.

State House

State House District 78 candidate John E. Patrick (Democrat) spoke. He will face incumbent Mary Littleton (Republican) in November.

Patrick said he would focus on restoring civility.

“I think this is a pivotal year in democracy,” Patrick said. “Much more is in peril than ever in my lifetime. Civil discourse and reasoned debate – where has it been?…How our government has operated as it has for over 200 years should continue to guide us. That’s why I’m running. To make room for reasoned debate. To make room for bringing the extremes together. My goal is to listen to the citizens of this district and then use my varied experiences, hopefully, to assert this district and its role in the general assembly.”

Haley Davidson also spoke on behalf of Jim Cooper who has been U.S. Representative for Tennessee’s 5th congressional district since 2003.

All these races, with the exception of the state senate and house contests, are on the ballot for the August 2 election in Cheatham County, for which early voting began on Friday, July 13, and ends on Saturday, July 28. There are also municipal elections in Ashland City and Pegram.

The general election for federal and state offices will be held on Tuesday, November 6, with early voting commencing two weeks before.

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