1994 Scott County Election
The 1994 Scott County General Election was held on Thursday, Aug. 4, 1994. Precincts included Fairview, Elgin, Robbins, Huntsville, Paint Rock, Helenwood, Pine Hill, Winfield, Capital Hill, Oneida and West Oneida.
The election featured wins by incumbent County Executive Denny Lowe, County Clerk Vesta J. Phillips and Register of Deeds Porter “Benjie” Rector Jr. But a number of “upsets” occurred elsewhere up and down the ballot, as newcomers were elected sheriff, county attorney, circuit court clerk, and road superintendent.
In several of those races, the ballot featured rematches of closely-decided races from the 1990 election.
Voting turnout was 69.2% — 8,153 of 11,786 registered voters participated.
County Executive
Clarence “Denny” Lowe won re-election over Oneida businessman Caswell L. Huff, winning by a total of 4,465 to 3,003.
Lowe, who had first been elected in 1990 when he defeated Dwight Murphy, won every precinct with the exception of Winfield and West Oneida. The two men polled closely in West Oneida, with Huff winning 469 to 440. Huff enjoyed a wider margin of victory in Winfield, 318 to 183.
Trustee
In a four-way race for Trustee, incumbent James E. “Jim” Posey Jr. was defeated by Sandra B. Phillips, 2,202 to 1,984. Posey had defeated Phillips by fewer than 100 votes in the 1990 election. Other candidates included former Register of Deeds James L. Byrd, who finished with 1,896 votes; and Oneida businessman Mearle Marcum, who finished with 1,484 votes.
County Attorney
In a three-way race for County Attorney, Mark Blakley won with 3,350 votes, defeating Charlie Allen (2,213 votes) and Bill Cooper III (2,017 votes).
Sheriff
For Jim Carson, the third time was the charm. The brother of former sheriff Marion Carson, Carson had run for office in 1986 and 1990, losing narrowly each time to Jack Laxton.
In the 1994 election, Carson finally turned the table, winning a five-person race by finishing with 3,375 votes.
Dean Sexton finished second with 2,381 votes, and Laxton was a distant third with 1,498 votes.
The Max Carpenter Shooting played a role in the 1994 election, featuring prominently in the campaign against Laxton.
Other candidates in the 1994 election included Johnny Yancey, who finished with 639 votes, and Delbert J. Sexton, who finished with 177 votes.
Circuit Court Clerk
After narrowly losing to Irene C. Chitwood in the 1990 election, Jan Burress won election in 1994 with 4,565 votes to 3,254 for Chitwood.
Burress won every precinct except for Chitwood’s native Winfield, where Chitwood won 327 to 219.
County Clerk
Vesta J. Phillips won re-election as County Clerk with 4,579 votes. JoAnn Gibson, her only challenger, finished with 3,093 votes.
Register of Deeds
First-term incumbent Porter B. “Benjie” Rector Jr. won re-election with 4,950 votes. Donnie W. Lowe finished with 2,387 votes.
Road Superintendent
After narrowly losing to J.D. “Headin” Lay in both 1986 and 1990, Ray E. Hatfield won the Road Superintendent’s race in 1994, finishing with 3,634 votes to 3,219 for Lay. Roger Bridges finished third, with 1,035 votes.
As in previous elections, Hatfield dominated in his native Fairview, with 619 votes at the precinct there, to just 165 for Lay. Lay, on the other hand, did well in Oneida, winning the Oneida proper and West Oneida precincts. He also won in Helenwood and Huntsville, while Hatfield won big in Elgin and Robbins, more than doubling Lay’s vote in each of those southern precincts.
District Races
* Denotes incumbent
1st District County Commission
James “Jeff” Watson, 413
Arnold Crowley*, 408
Donald Chambers, 263
R.L. Gibson*, 246
Ova Harness, 241
Robert “Speedy” Blevins, 149
2nd District County Commission
Jack Sexton, 608
Leonard M. Bertram, 447
Jimmy D. Byrd*, 441
2nd District School Board
Larry A. Overton, 469
Edward L. Smith, 347
Joseph Storey, 212
3rd District County Commission
Ernest Phillips, 435
Tommy Joel Newport*, 421
Marshall V. Lloyd, 394
Ronald E. “Ronnie” Ellis, 297
Charles “Buster” Sexton, 251
4th District County Commission
Rothel “Tub” Cross*, 495
McKinley “Benny” Zachary*, 428
Ricky A. Keeton, 410
5th District County Commission
Jim McCaroll*, 485
Paul D. Stanley, 404
Elcaney Eugene Chambers*, 312
Harold L. Chambers, 264
Brad Lay, 248
Clyde L. “Skip” Flynn III, 54
5th District School Board
David Marlar, 518
James Bridges, 260
Larry D. Fults, 130
6th District County Commission
Hollis Carson*, 458
Hertis Phillips, 411
Reuben C. Duncan, 399
Ballard Walker, 270
7th District County Commission
Mike Slaven*, 675
Rick L. Burke, 590
Rodney West*, 495
Bobby Lee Smith, 397
Oneida School Board
Scott Thompson, 458
Steve Phillips, 451
Richard “Dick” Smith, 410