By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Thursday was the qualifying deadline for the November state and federal general election and one familiar face will not be on Henry County ballots.
Paris Mayor Carlton Gerrell did not qualify for placement on the ballot and in a statement, Gerrell took responsibility for not securing the needed signatures to qualify. Gerrell has been on the Paris City Commission since 2010 and has served as Mayor for four consecutive terms, since 2014.
Gerrell issued the following statement:
“Unfortunately, I will not be on the ballot for the November election. To be totally transparent I have vacillated on the decision to run for another term and had decided to run because of the encouragement of many that were close to me and the work that was done and being done in our city, and particularly the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee. The burden is often tiring and causes much anxiety, especially when your goal is to just make things better for all.
“Our community is in a tremendous position for the future with the Industrial Park, the possible new Henry County Higher Education Facility and Highway 641. I will still dream of these coming to fruition and hope to see the factories, walk the halls, and drive the road.
“I hold in the highest regard Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway, City Manager Kim Foster, Rob Goad and Tara Wilson with the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee and the Vice-Mayor Jackie Jones and other commissioners. While I won’t be a voice in the future, these fine men and women are exceptional in their skill sets and love for Paris and Henry County
“I failed to secure the needed signatures to qualify and that was my fault, oversight, my own scheduling and neglect. The election commission does a tremendous job, the rules, deadlines and procedures are there to protect the integrity of the process and DeLaina and Kim serve their positions well. I have been encouraged to prompt a write-in campaign but that will not happen as there is a process, and it is confusing and not fair to those who followed the procedure set in place.
“One of the things I would like to leave with the new commissioners with the city and the county is this:
“Know your role! Either commission and most boards are simply there to serve as protection to the entity and the roles are approving the budget, setting the tax rate and setting policy and some have the option of hiring the day to day operations person.
“The commission for either is a representative of the people who elected them. They are simply ONE vote in five or one vote in 15. Thanks for the opportunity to serve.”
With Gerrell not qualifying, there now are three candidates running for three open seats on the Paris Commission: Commissioner Sam Tharpe seeking re-election, and newcomers Kathy Ray and Vickey Roberts.
In Henry, Mayor Dustin Odom is running for re-election unopposed. Running for two open seats are Charlotte Barnes and Jody Rayburn.
In Puryear, there are two seats open and one two-year unexpired term open. Running for the two open seats are Tellus “Mackie” Gallimore, Dale King and Mitch Sykes. Tommy Roberts is running for the two-year unexpired term.
Also on the November ballot: perennial candidate James Hart is running for both the Tennessee House District 8 and House District 76. Also running for the 76th District is Kevin West.
The election will be held November 8 with the Early Voting period from October 19-November 3.