One last say for candidates
The upcoming election includes three local contested races, with early voting beginning Friday, July 15, and running through Saturday, July 30.
Richard Cataldi will take on incumbent Louise Povlin for town of Farragut Alderman Ward I position. Ron Williams will be running unopposed for Alderman Ward II.
Republican incumbent John Schoonmaker will face off against Democrat Sheri Ridgeway in the 5th District County Commissioner race.
Susan Horn is running against Reuben “Buddy” Pelot for 5th District Board of Education.
Pelot said his time as an attorney would bring him unique experience. He said he wanted to continue to improve ACT scores and proficiency levels in reading and math across the board.
Pelot said he also was interested in bringing technology to students.
“Getting the devices into the hands of every kid at Farragut High School and then in the middle school,” he said.
Horn, who said she had experience from her volunteer work, said she would focus on other goals.
“I feel like technology is extremely important, but given the choice of having … a great, small classroom size with putting technology in the hands of every single child, I feel like we need solid, strong teachers in every classroom and smaller classroom sizes before every child has a computer, she said.
Povlin said she would continue work on two projects.
“I’d like to start hosting town hall-style meetings where people can come in in a casual atmosphere and ask questions and get answers to their questions,” she said. Povlin said she also would continue work on a small business liaison program.
Cataldi, said the Town regularly spends money on projects that had not performed well, including the current logo and slogan.
“Do you know what ‘live closer go further’ means? … It doesn’t say ‘Farragut’ It doesn’t say ‘Come here,’ it doesn’t say ‘come shop here,’” he said.
Schoonmaker said he would “continue to work hard every day to move Knox County forward.” He said he planned to respond to e-mails and phone calls on a timely basis while working on various projects he said are important to the district, including a new senior center.
Ridgeway said important issues to her include education, infrastructure, business and environmental conservation. Ridgeway said she would use social media and small meetings with constituents to make herself accessible.
“I am not a seasoned political wheel. What I am is a woman, seasoned in life,” she said.
Early voting runs from Friday, July 15, through Saturday, July 30. Early voting locations throughout Knox County will be Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive; Downtown West shopping center, 1543 Downtown West Blvd.; Merchants Drive North, 4952 Clinton Highway; New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane; Halls Recreation Center, 6933 Recreation Lane; City County Building, 400 Main St.; Carter Library, 9036 Asheville Highway; Love Kitchen, 2418 Martin Luther King Junior Ave.; Big Lots Shopping Center, 4536 Chapman Highway and Karns Senior Center, 8042 Oak Ridge Highway.
Election day voting will be Thursday, Aug. 4. Precinct 65 voters will vote at Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive, rather than the previous location, Farragut Middle School. Precinct 65N voters will vote at Farragut Primary School instead of the previous location, FMS.
Precinct 66N formerly had polling at Farragut High School, but now has polling at FMS. Voters can go to kgis.org for address searches and maps.
