Five city offices draw late entries

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Five of Hartselle’s six elected officials faced opposition when the qualifying period for the August 26 municipal election closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley will have to fight off two challengers in his bid for reelection. He faces opposition from Mike Dowdy, a long distance truck driver and an outspoken critic of the present administration, and Terry Miller, a local used car dealer, who was a last minute qualifier on Tuesday.
Four council members also have opposition. They are Bill Smelser, Place 1; Mark Mizell, Place 3; Bill Drake, Place 4; and Samie Wiley, Place 5.
No one qualified against K.T.”Kenny” Thompson, council chairman.
Miller was joined two three others who qualified as candidates between 3 and 5 p.m. on the last day of qualifying.
A.D. Hargrove, a retired Monsanto Company employee, qualified to oppose Bill Smelter for City Council, Place 2.
Bill Partridge, a minister and insurance agent who has run for the city council previously.
qualified for City Council, Place 3. Ronald Hammond, apolitical newcomer, filed for the same position on Friday. They are opposing incumbent Mark Mizell.
Former two-term council member Don Hall qualified for City Council, Place 5. He will oppose incumbent Samie Wiley, who took the position away from Hall in a close race four years ago.
Former Council member Tom Chappell qualified earlier as a candidate for City Council, Place 4. He is opposing incumbent Bill Drake.
City Clerk Rita Lee said she contacted the company that is printing the ballots immediately after the qualifying period ended and gave them a printing order. The ballots will be ready for distribution to voters wanting to vote absentee beginning Wednesday, July 23.
Anyone may request an absentee ballot through August 21, even though the ballot may be for someone else. However, absentee ballots are unacceptable unless they are mailed or dropped off at City Hall by the person who is voting absentee.