By Mike Steely
June 18th is the last day for candidates for Knoxville Mayor and Knoxville City Council to qualify for the September 29th Primary Election; as of Thursday, only two candidates had returned their petitions.
Mayor Madeline Rogero has picked up her petition for re-election. Thus far her only opposition would be from Buck Cochran who has also obtained a petition. Cochran ran unsuccessfully for city council in 2011 and was also a candidate in the 1990s for council.
Councilman at Large for Seat C, Finbarr Saunders, has picked up his petition and filed it. So far his opponents, who have picked up petitions from the Knox County Election Commission, include Kelly Absher, David Williams, and Pete Drew.
Absher is owner of Marketing and Events and Williams is president of the Pond Gap Neighborhood Association.
Charles E. (Pete) Drew is a former state legislator and county commissioner. He has also picked up petitions to run for the At Large positions in Seat A and Seat B. Drew may want to pick which seat he wants to run for before the qualification deadline but the election commission said Drew can run for all three At Large seats if he has 25 signatures on 3 petitions.
Incumbent George C. Wallace faces Drew and Matthew H. Martland for his position as At Large Council Seat A.
Councilman Marshall Stair, thus far, would only face Pete Drew.
Incumbent District 5 City Councilman may face Jennifer Mirtes, President of the Inskip Park and Pool Neighborhood Watch.
So far John R. Rosson, Jr. is the only one to pick up a petition for Municipal Judge.
June 15th is the last day to withdraw and September 9th begins early voting. The general election for the city is November 3rd.