Vacant CLB Seat To Be Decided By Run Off

There will be a run-off election for the undecided CLB seat in Cocke County’s third district. That was decided by the CLB at their meeting Monday night. That run-off election will be held on November 8th, the date of the general election for city, state and federal offices. This election will be between Terry Dawson, the incumbent and the challenger Tracy Stepp only….no others can qualify. Both Dawson and Stepp finished the election on August 4^th with 420 votes. Terry Dawson will continue on the CLB until his term ends on August 31^st. As of September 1^st, that third district seat will become vacant.

According to Josh Blanchard at the Election Commission, The CLB can appoint someone to fill that seat temporarily. Per the county attorney, that individual would have to live in the third district to qualify. Public notice would have to be given before any appointment so individuals could apply to fill that seat. It would be just a temporary appointment until the election in November. The new CLB that takes over on September 1^st will be tasked with making the decision to appoint someone or leave the seat vacant for two months until the voters of the third district have their say on November 8^th.