Linkous to be Hawkins County mayor, defeats incumbent DeWitte

ROGERSVILLE — David Linkous will be Hawkins County's next mayor, defeating incumbent Mark DeWitte, according to unofficial results. Linkous received 2,957 votes, about 36% of the total votes cast in the mayoral race. There are no independent candidates on the August ballot, so he is the race's de facto winner. Linkous has been a business owner for almost 20 years. He owns a jerky retailer in Gatlinburg and other locations, as well as a heavy equipment rental outside of Rogersville. He is also a Marine veteran. Linkous' vision for the county, he previously told the Times News, boils down to one word: prosperity. He wants to see the county grow, particularly regarding the economy and job market. Linkous said he would actively seek businesses to come to Hawkins. He also said the government's priorities should be to take care of the county's children, public safety agencies and roadways. Keith Gibson received the second-most votes, with 2,078. DeWitte got 2,005 votes, followed by Kenneth Stapleton with 1,235. Commission District 2's Republican candidates are incumbent Jeff Barrett and Randy Patterson. Barrett won the most votes: 742. Patterson followed with 654 votes, and Michael Bell with 463. In District 7, incumbents Robbie Palmer and Bobby Jinks won the commission seats. Palmer received the most votes, 825, with Jinks following at 638. Challenger Michael Herrell lost with 616 votes. The other districts were uncontested in the Republican primary. Districts 1, 4 and 5 will remain so in the general election; District 7 joins them. However, the Republican candidates from districts 2, 3 and 6 will be met with independent challengers. School board All three incumbents defended their seats. In District 4, Hannah Speaks won with 669 votes. Challenger Tecky Hicks, a former school board member, lost with 625 votes. District 6's Debbie Shedden won with 579 votes against contractor Travis Charles, who received 504. In District 7, Alina Gorlova won against challenger Carl "Ketron" Bailey Jr. She received 697 votes, while he got 519. The other district's school board seats were either not up for election or were unchallenged. District 3 has one candidate, Kurt Cornett, who is independent and will appear on the August ballot. County clerk Cindy Rutledge will be Hawkins' next county clerk, having received 5,847 votes. Challenger Austin Ray Bradley, a security guard, received 1,649. Rutledge has been a deputy clerk for 38 years in the Hawkins County Clerk's Office, and the chief deputy since 2014. She will succeed Nancy Davis, who will retire after 12 years in the role. Davis endorsed Rutledge. Rutledge previously told the Times News that she wants to reopen driver license services to five days a week and ensure the office gives strong customer service. There are no independent candidates on the August ballot, so Rutledge will stand alone. Constables All three incumbents will remain in their positions. In District 2, Freddie Castle won with 899 votes against James B. Freshour's 326. In District 3, Frank H. Vaughn defeated challenger Bryan D. Carter with 439 votes. Carter received 382. District 6's Wayne Cunningham, won with 610 votes. Challenger Tim Kerney received 346.