Mayor, four council posts on ballot

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle voters will decide who will serve them in five of the city’s six elected positions for the next four years when they got o the polls to vote Aug. 26. Voting hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at voting centers at Sparkman Civic Center and American Legion Post 52.
Three candidates are in the running for mayor. They are incumbent Mayor Dwight Tankersley, truck driver Mike Dowdy and used car dealer Terry Freeman Miller.
In city council races, Place1 incumbent Bill Smelter is opposed by A.D. Hargrove, a retired Monsanto Company employee; Place 3 incumbent Mark Mizell Jr. has opposition from political newcomer Ronald Hammon and Bill Partridge, a former council candidate; Place 4 incumbent Billy J. Drake is facing off against former councilman Tom Chappell; and Place 5 incumbent Samie A. Wiley is going up against former councilman Don Hall.
Council Chairman K.T. “Kenny” Thompson sits in Place 2 with out opposition.
Voters who will not be able to get to the polls on election day have until 4:30 p.m. Thursday (today), Aug. 21, to make application for an absentee ballot at City Hall, according to City Clerk/Controller Rita Lee.
If mailed, absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than Aug. 25 and arrive at City Hall not later than noon on Aug. 25. Hand-delivered ballots must arrive at City Hall not later than 5 p.m. on the same date.
Lee said she had received requests for 28 sample ballots as of noon on Tuesday, with most of them coming from retirees, who had plans for a late summer vacation.
Major issues raised during the campaign period include the prudent spending of taxpayer dollars, an appointed vs. elected school board, a funding source for a proposed new high school and the commercial development of the Hoy. 36 and I-65 interchange.