A GREAT night for BrianHornback.Com advertisers and a cleaning of the old guard from the courthouse.

Circuit Court Div. I Judge Elect Kristi Davis captured 42.50% of the vote to give old GOP guard Billy Stokes another sound drumming. First he lost to Senator Jamie Woodson and now tonight. He has run twice and lost twice. Ray Jenkins came in third. Stokes and Jenkins took the old guard GOP vote and split it and now a NEW day with Judge Elect Davis. She was my first political advertiser in 2014. Congrats Judge Elect. Thanks to Jenkins for advertising as well.

Circuit Court Judge Div. IV Greg McMillan appears to have squeaked out a win over fellow Republican Patti Jane Lay. McMillan with 10,489 votes or 50.51% to Lay’s 10,276 votes or 49.49%. On the Democrat side, Daniel Kidd bested Daniel Valone. Kidd with 1,715 or 65.86 to Valone’s 897 or 34.34% Now, McMillan and Kidd face off in the August 7, General Election.

In the Sheriff election, Sheriff Jimmy J.J. Jones bested the most hideous, negative, falsely accusatory campaign tactics of Former railroad detective Bobby Waggoner and Sam Hammett. Jones capturing 13,553 or 57.65% to Waggoner’s paltry 8,236 or 35.03% and Hammett with 1,727 or 7.32%. I will refrain from insulting the 7.5% of the voting populace.

In the BEST win of the night, County Commissioner Ed Shouse beat the 2007 Black Wednesday Commissioner and Good ole Boy Appointee interim Trustee Craig Leuthold. Barry Hawkins ran a respectable third? Shouse besting the field with 10,259 votes or 46.15% to Leuthold’s 8,623 or 38.79% to Hawkins respectable 3,346 or 15.05%.

In the Criminal Court Clerk’s race, County Commissioner Mike Hammond carried the day with 13,046 votes or 58.71% to Assistant District Attorney Jason Hunnicutt’s 5,741 or 25.84% to Attorney Steve Williams 3,434 or 15.45%. Hunnicutt has a future with a possible judge position in 8 years. But it seems that the criticism that some threw at Hammond over supporting a business park out in East Knox County just wasn’t a factor.

Four of the Eleven County Commission seats were up.

Bob Thomas was unopposed for countywide Seat 10. Thankfully his wife Kim was able to vote for him and the write in threat was not as close as expected.

Ed Brantley and Michele Carringer faced off for countywide Seat 11. Brantley used his first time candidate, being from West Knox Counties Hardin Valley community versus. Carringer’s previous service, her failed bid for Commission four years ago and her North Knoxville residency. Brantley carried the day with a West Knoxville surge besting Carringer 12,791 votes or 57.50% to 9,454 or 42.50%

In District 3, Commissioner Tony Norman will be replace by County Commissioner Elect Randy Smith. Smith beat Billy Stephens 1,319 votes or 66.72% to 658 votes or 33.28%. Smith apparently utilized grassroot campaign tactics. While Stephens (according to financial disclosures) employed a software company Cryagon, LLC to distribute mailings.

In District 7, Charles Busler edged out Bo Bennett. Busler who campaigned on having been a Powell resident for a half a million years edged Bennett by only 544 votes. In the actual Powell precinct today, Busler only bested Bennett by 20 +/- votes. Busler received 1,629 votes to Bennett’s 1,085. Busler has pledged to only serve 1 term of 4 years. Bennett will be back.

Now, to the contested School Board races.

District One, it seems that first term and Board Vice Chair Gloria Deathridge will have to face Marshall Walker in the August 7, General Election. Detahridge failed to receive 50% plus 1 to avoid a run off. Deathridge received 657 votes to Walker’s 392 to third candidate Robert Boyd’s 366.

District Four, First term and Board Chair. Lynne Fugate will return for a second four year term. She was met with opposition from two individuals, Sally Absher and J. Scott Clark. Absher unfortunately aligned with some out of district individuals that cost her in the district. Fugate garnered 2,327 votes or 54.45% to Absher’s 1,464 votes or 34.25% to Clark’s 483 or 11.30% combining the two anti votes still does not beat Fugate. The opposition under estimated the fourth districts respect for civility and a reasoned approach to governance of the school district. A strong win for Fugate does not bode well for the County Mayor who was firmly in the Absher camp.

District Six, Retired School Social Worker Terry Hill carrying the lion share of votes today. She captured 1,394 votes or 42.91% Coming in second is Sandra Rowcliffe (whose past personal actions as documented in recent newspaper account could have easily been on a recent episode of Jerry Springer) with 742 votes or 22.84%. Bradley Buchanan came in a close third with 622 votes or 19.14% and bringing up the caboose of the train is Former weekly news paper writer Tamara Shepherd with 491 votes or 15.11%.

Last but certainly not least District Nine, they selected a newbie. Amber Rountree a Halls Elementary School librarian beat first term, former Knox County Council PTA President Pam Trainor. No one saw this one coming except Metro Pulse’s Cari Gervin and BrianHornback.Com Rountree garnered 1,458 votes or 58.46% to Trainor’s 1,036 or 41.54% Reports were that polling did not indicate that Rountree could pull it off, but she did.

Overall, a good night for Knox County and a GREAT night for BrianHornback.Com advertisers. Good Night, God Bless us each and every one.