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A Voter's Guide to This Fall's City Council Elections

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

WHAT'S AT STAKE

* Nine candidates are running for five Knoxville City Council seats in the Sept. 27 primary election. (A 10th candidate's name is on the ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.) The field includes one unopposed incumbent in the 1st District, four opposed incumbents in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Districts, and four active challengers.

* In the primary, candidates run in their district. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election, in which they run citywide.

* Candidates for the other four council seats -- three at-large seats and the 5th District seat -- will run in 2007, along with the mayoral candidates.

* City of Knoxville races are nonpartisan. Candidates do not run with a political party affiliation.

* The city's election format differs from that of Knox County. Proponents of the city's format say it offers the best of both worlds: District voters have their say by narrowing a field of candidates to two, while a follow-up citywide general election might discourage an overly parochial candidate whose positions are popular in the home district but unpopular citywide. Knox County commissioners run only in their district, not countywide, and proponents of that format say it does not favor well-financed candidates and better preserves district autonomy.

WHEN TO VOTE

* Early voting starts Wednesday, Sept. 7, and ends Thursday, Sept. 22. Hours generally are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

* The courthouse location will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17.

* Evening hours will be offered Tuesday-Thursday, Sept. 20-22.

WHERE TO VOTE

There will be six early-voting locations in Knoxville:

* Knox County Courthouse, 300 Main St.

* Teacher Center (old South High School), 801 Tipton Ave.

* Downtown West (next to Korea House), 1645 Downtown West Blvd.

* Knoxville Center (next to County Clerk's Office), 3001 Knoxville Center Drive.

* Love Kitchen, 2418 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

* West Haven Center (near Elliot's), 3929 Western Ave.

QUESTIONS?

* Call the Election Commission at 865-215-2480 (or TDD 215- 2954).

* Visit www.knoxcounty.org/election.

1ST DISTRICT

JOE HULTQUIST

Incumbent (unopposed)

* Age: 52

* Occupation: Full-time city councilman

* Family: Mother, brother and sister

* Education: Graduated Maryville High School, attended Tusculum College and the University of Tennessee

* Favorite book: Hard to say, but hes currently reading Governing By Network: The New Shape of the Public Sector by Stephen Goldsmith and William D. Eggers

* Favorite movie: Little time for movies, but recently enjoyed The Incredibles

* Favorite restaurant: King Tuts and Tomato Head

* Favorite Web site: kgis.org

* Person most admired: His late paternal grandfather, V.J. Hultquist, who oversaw the construction of the city of Alcoa and went on to serve as its first city manager for 26 years

* Personal: Hultquist says he enjoys designing and building on any scale, whether it be a piece of furniture or full-scale building construction

* Policy: Lists his top priorities as planning for quality growth in the 1st District, particularly the ongoing efforts to draft a long-term South Knoxville waterfront master plan; transportation issues and alternatives like rail transit

* Contact information: home, 865-579-1250; e-mail, joseph49@bellsouth.net

2ND DISTRICT

BARBARA B. PELOT

Incumbent

* Age: 68

* Occup-ation: Office manager at husband's dental practice

* Family: Husband, Reuben N. Pelot; children, Lisa Pelot Kelley, Laurie Pelot Gooch, Lynda Pelot McAllister, Reuben N. "Buddy" Pelot IV; 14 grandchildren

* Education: Valedictorian graduate of Farragut High School; graduate, cum laude, from Memphis State University with bachelor's degree in history, sociology and secondary education

* Favorite book: any Patricia Cornwell book

* Favorite movie: "Schindler's List"

* Favorite restaurant: The Orangery and Bravo

* Favorite Web site: cityofknoxville.org

* Person most admired: "The volunteer -- our city is blessed with so many, who quietly give so much to so many, supporting many causes and making this the great city it is"

* Personal: Pelot works each Friday as a chair-side dental assistant to her husband at the Volunteer Ministry Center's dental clinic for the homeless and indigent, which her husband founded six years ago

* Policy: Cites her priorities as continuing to support economic development and community revitalization, while protecting the integrity of established neighborhoods; supporting historic preservation efforts; delivering basic city services like police, fire and street paving; fiscal responsibility and accountability in all government operations; continuing to be "your voice for your values."

* Contact information: home, 865-693-0454; e-mail, rpelot3@aol.com

KEN KNIGHT

Challenger

* Age: 45

* Occupation: Hotel general manager of the Crowne Plaza Knoxville

* Family: Wife, Tammy Knight; daughter Casondra

* Education: Graduate of East High School, Sioux City, Iowa

* Favorite book: 1984 by George Orwell

* Favorite movie: Saving Private Ryan

* Favorite restaurant: Regas

* Favorite Web site: www.kenknightforcouncil.com (Seriously I dont have a favorite)

* Person most admired: My dad he is a living example of a person who is honest and always tries to do the right thing. He worked hard every day to take care of his family. He sacrificed a lot for us. I now consider it a privilege to help look after him.

* Personal: Knight has read to fifth-graders at Green Magnet School each week for the past two years. I love to see kids faces when they say, Mr. Knight, read my book, and when theyre listening to the story Im reading.

* Policy: Cites as priorities ensuring that taxes are spent wisely to provide quality services, rather than to serve the government; working to continue building downtown to provide taxpayers a return on their investment; reopening the City County Building parking garage; working with all parties to ensure strong, safe neighborhoods; promoting sensible development that brings jobs, strengthens the local economy and, as a result, furthers the vibrancy of neighborhoods

* Contact information: home, 865-544-0008; Web site, kenknightforcouncil.com

3RD DISTRICT

STEVE HALL

Incumbent

* Age: 49

* Occupation: Owner of Interior Finishes Corp. construction company

* Family: Wife, Janet Hall; five children, three grandchildren

* Education: Attended Pellissippi State Technical Community College

* Favorite book: The Bible

* Favorite movie: "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

* Favorite restaurant: Fat Boy's

* Favorite Web site: voicesouth.com

* Person most admired: Ronald Reagan

* Personal: Enjoys riding motorcycles

* Policy: Pledges to keep taxes low; provide constituent services and quality governmental services; make Knoxville "an even better place to live, work and raise a family."

* Contact information: home, 865-584-9567; e-mail electstevehall@msn.com

ELLEN ADCOCK

Challenger

* Age: 54

* Occupation: Manages family-owned rental properties; provides technical assistance and consulting services to business, government and nonprofits

* Family: Husband, Jim Warchol; two stepchildren, two grandchildren

* Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee in psychology

* Favorite book: "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin"

* Favorite movie: "Little Big Man"

* Favorite restaurant: Ruby Tuesday

* Favorite Web site: www.kintehaley.org, which serves an Annapolis, Md.-based foundation in memory of Alex Haley

* Person most admired: U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. -- "I admire Howard Baker because he was a moderate (who) built coalitions and was willing to vote independent of party influence. He conducted himself in an objective and nonpartisan manner."

* Personal: Adcock worked with volunteers and city and county government officials to help build the Young-Williams Animal Center

* Policy: Pledges to be responsive to 3rd District and citywide concerns; to promote strong, safe neighborhoods; to seek new business for the area and make better use of empty commercial buildings; to be careful with tax dollars. Adcock also said she supports an open government process, which encourages public participation.

* Contact information: home, 865-523-2615; e-mail, EllenAdcock@aol.com; Web site, www.EllenAdcock.org

4TH DISTRICT

ROB FROST

Incumbent

* Age: 36

* Occupation: Attorney

* Family: Wife, Erin; son, Sonny; second child due this month

* Education: Undergraduate from the University of Tennessee; law degree from Tulane University School of Law

* Favorite book: Home Depots 1-2-3 do-it-yourself books

* Favorite movie: Bird on a Wire, which he saw on a first date with his future wife

* Favorite restaurant: Leos Cafe

* Favorite Web site: cityofknoxville.org

* Person most admired: His late father, Bob Frost

* Personal: Huge fan of cars and auto racing

* Policy: To continue to use my experience and energy to improve Knoxville daily. Frost also said he supports cleaner, safer neighborhoods and a responsive and responsible government that carefully manages tax dollars.

* Contact information: home, 865-525-1303; e-mail, tennlaw@awgd.com

KIM LITTON

Challenger

* Age: 50

* Occupation: Real-estate agent

* Family: Children, Erik, Ashley and Elizabeth; daughter-in-law, Jamie

* Education: Attended Knoxville Catholic High School and the University of Tennessee

* Favorite book: "Reach For the Summit," by Pat Head Summit

* Favorite movie: "Dr. Zhivago"

* Favorite restaurant: Litton's; added, "However, I do enjoy Naples for their Italian"

* Favorite Web site: www.HGTV.com

* Person most admired: Her mother, Pat Buchanan, "who reared six children, taught us compassion and concern for others, as well as strong work ethics and is the proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren."

* Personal: Litton enjoys home improvement projects and gardening. She's currently renovating a 65-year-old home in Fountain City.

* Policy: Litton cites the city budget as the most important item for the years ahead. "We have to find a method to encourage logical, practical growth. If we do not expand our tax base, we will have to raise our tax rate on a regular basis," she said. "We as a community must move forward toward common-sense development, protection of property owners' rights, strengthening our neighborhoods and providing effective representation for our constituents."

* Contact information: e-mail, KBLitton@aol.com

6TH DISTRICT

MARK BROWN

Incumbent

* Age: 44

* Occupation: Attorney

* Family: Wife, Marcia Brown; son, Mark Brown Jr.

* Education: Law degree

* Favorite book: The Bible

* Favorite movie: "I have several."

* Favorite restaurant: "Any one with good food."

* Favorite Web site: n/a

* Person most admired: His father

* Personal: Brown is a member of "The Spirit of Peace" gospel quartet

* Policy: Says he would continue to focus on issues involving economic and community development, public safety, job creation and youth development

* Contact information: e-mail, mbrown@cityofknoxville.org

SEPTEMBER ARETHA COLEMAN GOOLSBY

Challenger

* Age: 57

* Occupation: Retired three years ago from a 30-year career with the federal Department of Motor Vehicles in Washington, D.C.

* Family: Husband, Marlon Goolsby; daughter, Pleshette Massey

* Education: Graduate of Knoxville's East High School

* Favorite book: The Bible

* Favorite movie: "Gone With the Wind"

* Favorite restaurant: Ryan's Family Steak House

* Favorite Web site: n/a

* Person most admired: "Mothers" Ruth Johnson Coleman, Hattie Walton and Annie Massey

* Personal: Goolsby enjoys interior decorating, designing jewelry, singing gospel and jazz, acting

* Policy: Says she supports establishing "training programs for the young and old" and restoring communities; promoting more restaurants, retail businesses and entertainment options downtown, as well as the return of passenger rail service to Knoxville

* Contact information: n/a

WAYNE SWANN

Challenger

* Since filing, has withdrawn his name from the race and said he will not actively campaign for the office. But election officials say his name will still appear on the ballot.

Source: News Sentinel

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