West: Vote early

By MIKE WEST

It's time to vote!
Early voting for the August 4th Election begins Friday, July 15 and continues through July 30.
You can cast your early ballot at the Cannon County Election Commission Office on the following dates and times.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday
4 p.m. To 7 p.m.
Saturday (16th and 23rd)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday (30th)
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

So why vote early? There's several reasons like avoiding the Election Day crush. But to me the chief consideration is making sure you vote.
The ballot for the August 4th election is short, but it includes some contested races including three important ones.
Starting off that list is the race for District 46 of the Tennessee House of Representatives. That race faces incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Pody versus Democratic challenger Amelia Morrison Hipps. Both candidates are from Wilson County. That is a race the Cannon County vote could decide.
Then there is the Assessor of Property contest featuring, in a sense, four politicial newcomers in a race to replacing retiring incumbent Donald Preston, who is retiring. Angela Schwartz, who currently works in the Assessor of Property Office, is the experienced candidate, but the other hopefuls are very familiar to Cannon Countians. The list includes John Basinger, Anna Pittman and Michael R. Underhill.
The District 1, School Board race is also a tightly contested one with incumbent Nathan Sanders challenged by Michael Keith Jones, who in recent months has taken a great deal of interest in issues before the the School Board and about the actions of Barbara Parker, director of schools.
Three other School Board seats are unchallenged in the upcoming election. Newcomer Tim Powers, District 2 and incumbent Bruce Daniel have no opposition. Javin Fann faces no opposition in District 4.
Voters will also have the opportunity to vote to retain several high court judges including three members of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
So get out and vote!