By DEREK HODGES

Staff Writer

It seems like the campaigns for the four contested County Commission seats on the Aug. 5 ballot could be summed up by this line from the old song: “Second verse same as the first.”

While they’re new battles with some new faces, the races and issues echo the May primary, with each candidate pointing to the economy as the biggest issue new leadership will face.

Four incumbent commissioners are facing August challenges. Several Democrats and independents are mounting challenges in the the 1st, 8th, 10th and 11th districts. While next week’s vote will decide the local election, it will serve as the date for the statewide primaries, with the winners advancing to November’s general election.

In District 8 Seat A, Republican Gene Byrd is opposed by Democrat Gerald Harrell.

Gary Cole is battling a challenge from Democrat Michael “Fitz” Fitzgibbons for Seat 11A.

Both posts in District 10 are contested this year, with Republican Bryan Delius facing former Democratic Party chairman Scott Whaley for Seat A. Seat B finds GOP incumbent Jim Keener up against independents Steve Brenner and David DeArmond.

Jim Bishop, who was an unsuccessful candidate in the primaries, has registered to run as a write-in for Seat 1B, in case a lawsuit forces cpunty employees such as Tommy Watts, a sheriff’s deputy and the Republican candidate for 1B, off the ballot.

Seat 8A

While both men agree the county must innovate to make it through lean times, they differ slightly on what that means.

For Harrell, the way to help the area and its citizens better weather economic storms is to recruit more industrial jobs. A career steelworker, he says he’s not afraid of hard work.

“We just don’t have any more open land up here near the interstate in Sevierville that’s zoned for industrial,” Harrell says. “I’m in favor of more industry in the area. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favor of supporting our tourism businesses. But tourists, nowadays, are not going to keep us alive.”

The incumbent Byrd agrees recruiting more manufacturing jobs will be an important part of building the financial base, but he also sees another route to prosperity: education.

“Purchasing property and building a new high school for Northview/Kodak (is a priority),” Byrd says.

Still, for building a more year-round economy, Byrd believes the key is industry.

“I think the county should develop the industrial parks they already have to make them more appealing to industries looking to bring jobs to our county,” he says. “If these are developed we don’t need to change residential areas into industrial, causing spot zoning like the county has done to get Lisega into the county.”

Harrell’s reasons for running have little to do with disagreements with Byrd, though he does believe it’s time for change on the commission.

“I support term limits. I think the majority of the people support that. The people like presidential term limits,” he said.

Seat 10A

They may be in opposing parties, but both men in this race suggest similar ways the county can be a better steward of the resources it has.

Delius says his experience as a commissioner have highlighted the importance of prioritizing.

“Our financial situation is probably better than most counties in Tennessee. To this point, our revenues have been stronger than most communities’,” Delius says. “However, fully understanding that needs do not automatically decline as revenue may, new projects should be chosen with utmost car, giving priority to what will benefit the greatest number of citizens. We need to watch the budget closely and eliminate all unnecessary spending.”

Whaley agrees the county is doing well compared to others and must hold the line on how it handles money through tough times.

“While we have one of the highest sales taxes in the county — a fact I do not like — we are better off for it,” Whaley says. “With high unemployment rates, the sales tax in this county has helped us during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. If we had an income tax, we would be in worse financial shape than we are now. We are therefore blessed at this time compared to other counties and states.”

The men disagree whether county employees should be allowed to run for elected office. While Delius sees damage in limiting the candidate pool, Whaley worries allowing them to hold public posts could be tricky.

“State law prohibits the exclusion of county employees from seeking public office,” Delius says.

“It is a conflict of interests,” Whaley said. “I would support a referendum vote that allows the citizens to decide whether to allow this practice to continue.”

Seat 10B

This is the only contest with three candidates. Incumbent Keener won a primary challenge to face two newcomers in the general election.

DeArmond is the only candidate responding to prepared questions from The Mountain Press who is willing to give some ground on the County Commission starting its meetings with the Lord’s Prayer.

“I think there are ways to compromise on this issue,” he said.

His opponents want to see the county dig in and defend use of the prayer and a depiction of the Ten Commandments that hangs in the meeting room.

“I think we must stand and fight for our rights to pray at commission meetings and to hold on to the right to keep the Ten Commandments posted in the courthouse,” Keener says. “I think the majority of Sevier County citizens support that stand.”

“I am certain that the vast majority of people in Sevier County are united in their defiance toward anyone or any organization attempting to change the customs that are part of our public meetings,” Brenner said. “If money is needed to defnd this position, I am certain that it could be raised on any given Sunday.”

Two of the candidates point to recruiting industry as the cornerstone of driving the county’s economy.

“Sevier County should always be looking to add good jobs,” Brenner says. “If we can benefit from the deflated real estate market by acquiring land that can be developed, with some level of certainty, into a source of new jobs, then it should be considered,”

In addition to working for future successes like the recruitment of Lisega Inc.’s American headquarters to the county, local leaders should keep an eye on the bottom line if the recession drags on, Keener says.

“In the past we have always been able to provide services primarily from revenues received from sales tax and a low property tax rate,” he says. “We will have to reassess our current funding priorities if the financial situation continues.”

DeArmond, asked the top issue likely to face the next commission will be, said simply, “Budget and spending.”

Seat 11A

Finding ways to add jobs is on the minds of the two men running for this seat, which Cole has held for several terms.

Both Cole and Fitzgibbons see at least part of the answer is attracting more factories.

“Industrial recruitment and development, coupled with effective tourism promotion targeted at the slower winter months,” Cole suggests as ways to build a year-round economy here. “New manufacturing jobs would be a tremendous asset to the county, helping lower the winter unemployment rates we now see. Tourism promotion during the off season months will also keep people at work.”

Fitzgibbons sees an opportunity for the county to spread its reach into fields that will likely build the economy of the future.

“While we must continue to promote Sevier County as a vacation or convention destination and attract as many visitors as possible all year long, we must add a good blend of service, manufacturing and technology industries to the economy,” he says. “Three key things that make a county attractive to new business are a suitable location, favorable business environment and a local pool of educated and skilled workers.”

The accusations raised in the lawsuit related to the federal Hatch Act hit close to home for Cole, who’s named in the action that seeks to unseat or disqualify several county employees seeking election to the commission. Cole, a former reserve officer for the Sheriff’s Department, says the candidates will prevail in the “frivolous” suit and believes the county would lose a number of good leaders if those who work for it were barred from leading it.

“State law specifically allows county employees to serve on a county commission, so a policy passed by the Sevier County Commission (forbidding that) would be meaningless,” Cole says.

Fitzgibbons, meanwhile, takes the opposite side.

“Sevier County should have a policy in place that prohibits county employees from holding office,” he says. “County government needs a system of checks and balances that prevents the influence of special interests or decisions made for personal gain.”

dhodges@themountainpress.com