.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....
County Commissioner, District 3
Tommy Lee Francis Other

Profession: Morgan County Correctional Complex (Corporal)

Education: Wartburg Central High (Diploma), North Carolina College of Theology (Associates Degree)

Family: Wife: Heather is a CASA volunteer, Children: Tommy Lee II, Ian Walker, Elijah Heath

Organizations: Sunbright Church of God of Prophecy, Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association, Tennessee Firearms Association, Brushy Mountain Local 2173, Tennessee Right to Life, Farm Bureau, Tennessee Correctional Association, TSEA, MCRP

Experience: Board of Directors Tennessee Correctional Association, Vice President TSEA, Vice Chairman MCRP

Why Running: Being Blessed to grow up and raise my family in Morgan County, I feel it is our duty to make a difference in the future of our children's lives. Our Government has swollen and is out of control from the White House to the Courthouse. I will promote fiscal responsibility and a smaller more transparent government that works for WE THE PEOPLE.

Top Issue Beliefs: Unemployment in Morgan County is around 12%, jobs have to be a top priority. Creating an atmosphere for business to grow and prosper will help get that number down. A lower tax burden is essential to that growth. I don't believe county commission should have the power to implement a wheel tax without the citizen's voting on it. Back room deals can not be tolerated. America was founded with a government Of the people, By the people, For the people and it will be my duty to help protect that fundamental principle.
Shayna Rayder Other

Profession: Working with the State for close to 9 years.

Education: Associates Degree in Applied Science/Criminal Justice; Technical Degree in Police Supervision and Administration; and currently working to complete my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Family: Married 20 years to Michael Rayder.

Organizations: No answer

Experience: No answer

Why Running: I hope to become an advocate for change, change that will help everyone in this district and also our county as a whole.

Top Issue Beliefs: Our children and our children's children. Currently there is hardly anything to offer our younger generation to mold them into productive members of society.
Phil Vespie Other

Profession: Transport management Center supervisor for Tennessee Department of Transportation

Education: 1982 graduate of Central High School and of Roane State Commmunity College as an EMT and Paramedic

Family: Wife Angie, two daughters and a granddaughter

Organizations: Member of Oak Grove Church, Honorably Discharged Veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Gulf War. Previously employed by Morgan County EMS, former member of both the Wartburg Volunteer Fire Department and the Morgan County Volunteer Rescue Squad. In the past I have coached youth baseball and basketball.

Experience: No Answer

Why Running: To take another step in serving my community. I want to be a steady and strong voice of reason for those whom I serve. I want to display courage to stand for what the people want even if I end up standing alone.

Top Issue Beliefs: Our debt must be aggressively attacked and the taxpayer must be protected while doing so. People deserve a government that works for them.
Juanita E. Armes Democrat

Profession: Retired from State

Education: High school plus 1 year vocational school

Family: Husband, William (Foye) Armes, 1 daughter Janet (Mike) Goddard, 2 grandchildren Mikey Goddard, Christie (Michael) Ledbetter, 3 great-grandchildren Andrew, Evan and Eden.

Organizations: Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Frozen Head, serve on our church board

Experience: 8 years on County Commission; appointed by Governor on Conservation and Environmental Committee; I serve on 7 or 8 different committees in County Commission.

Why Running: I love Morgan County and I want to see it continue to grow and not go backwards and I will work hard to help anyone in the county with their problems.

Top Issue Beliefs: Employment, good roads and water for everyone in Morgan County and all of these are being worked on.
Sierra Davis Republican

Profession: Student at TTU and Darnell's employee

Education: AST Degree in Elementary Education continuing for Bachelor's at TTU

Family: Parents are Ellen and Dennis Davis, 3 sisters Cassie and Samantha Davis and Haley Hall

Organizations: No answer

Experience: No answer

Why Running: I am running to try to have a voice in office that will say “no” to spending and start to pay off our debt.

Top Issue Beliefs: Our debt and how we keep adding on to it. Also, the thought of adding extra taxes to pay it off.
Lucy Freytag Other

Profession: Family Nurse Practitioner

Education: Masters Degree in Nursing, BS in Education - UT

Family: 3 children, Casey and husband Bob Kennedy, Gay Freytag and Preston Freytag and wife Bonnie, 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, formerly married to deceased Charles Freytag

Organizations: Secretary – ETNA – LEPD, Emory River Watershed, Habitat, Roane State Foundation Board

Experience: First female elected to County Commission – County Commission, served on State Tennessee Political Committee, served on the budget committee

Why Running: It has always been my desire to help people. I do this in my work as a nurse practitioner. There is more to keeping patients healthy besides giving a prescription. Financial burdens put much stress on people which can lead to illness. If I can help to keep land taxes down and make this county a better place to live it helps to reduce stress on the population.

Top Issue Beliefs: Keeping the county going forward in a positive way as we are now. Even in this economy our county is still operating in the black. We are progressing with Plateau Partnership Park. The courthouse renovation will soon be completed as dictated by the fire marshall.

David Hennessee Democrat

Profession: Teacher, farmer

Education: M.S. in Administration

Family: Married to Bernice, two children Patrick and Cindy (Curt) Williams, two grandchildren Jordan and Megan

Organizations: St. Paul Lutheran Church; MCEA & TEA; Soil Conservation District & RC&D; Emory River Watershed; Morgan Medical Center

Experience: Currently serving as County Commissioner

Top Issue Beliefs: Local industry, better schools, increasing tax base, lower taxes, better roads, recreation and tourism
Gary Latham Other

Profession: I'm retired now but until two years ago I owned and ran Area Wide Htc. & A.C.

Education: My education includes High School, some college and several technical and management courses.

Family: I've been married to the same wonderful woman for the past 44 years. We have two children and three grandchildren.

Organizations: I have the proud distinction of being a charter member of the Morgan County Central Lions Club and I am also a member of the Emerald Lodge.

Experience: My political experience, as with most of you, is limited to sitting on the sidelines and wondering why. Every once in a while I'd try to get an answer. If you've tried I don't have to tell you how that went. Do they really not know or just don't want to tell you.

Why Running: I'm running for this office to get some of those answers. I also want to know how hard it is to keep your promises and maintain your integrity. If I get elected I'll run one more time and that is all. I'm a firm believer in term limits.

Top Issue Beliefs: Become solvent so we can take advantage of future opportunities without increasing the burden on the taxpayers. Looking back at the major purchases of the last two years, which ones created new jobs. I'm also not in favor of stitching new pockets onto taxpayers (wheel tax) so we can pull out more money.

Start taking better care of our employees. Think back, when was the last time you went to Roane County and didn't see an ex-Morgan County deputy in a Roane County car?

Working toward these goals will solve a lot of problems.