2022 Scott County Election
The 2022 Scott County General Election was held on Thursday, August 4, 2022. On the ballot were the offices of County Mayor, Sheriff, Road Superintendent, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, County Attorney, Circuit Court Clerk and General Sessions Judge. Also on the ballot was a special election for the Assessor of Property, as well as all 14 seats on County Commission, four seats on the Scott County Board of Education and three seats on the Oneida Special School District Board of Education.
Total voter turnout was 52.3%, with 6,944 of Scott County’s 13,287 voters casting ballots. Of those, 3,934 voted during in person during the two-week early voting period, 337 voted by absentee ballot, and 2,673 voted in person on Election Day.
County Mayor
In the race for Scott County Mayor, challenger Jerried Jeffers, of Robbins, defeated incumbent Jeff Tibbals, 3,847 to 2,858. Jeffers, who represented 2nd District on County Commission at the time, captured 57.3% of the vote, while Tibbals captured 42.6% of the vote. There were five write-in votes.
Sheriff
In the race for Scott County Sheriff, challenger Brian Keeton defeated two-term incumbent Ronnie Phillips, 4,220 to 2,595. Keeton, of Robbins, was the chief of police in Jacksboro, Tenn. at the time. He received 61.9% of the vote, while Phillips received 38.1% of the vote. There were five write-in votes.
Road Superintendent
Incumbent Road Superintendent Kelvin King ran unopposed and received 4,859 courtesy votes. There were 313 write-in votes.
County Clerk
In the race for County Clerk, incumbent Felicia Hamby Bilbrey defeated teacher’s assistant Amanda Chambers Sexton, 3,609 to 3,058. Bilbrey received 54.1% of the vote, while Sexton received 45.9% of the vote.
County Attorney
Incumbent County Attorney John Beaty ran unopposed and received 5,532 courtesy votes. There were 18 write-in votes.
Trustee
In the race for Trustee, which saw long-time incumbent Jimmy D. Byrd opt not to seek re-election, Rena Erwin defeated Justin Wright, 3,984 to 2,520. Erwin, a long time deputy trustee who was endorsed by Byrd, received 61.2% of the vote. Wright, a banker, received 38.7% of the vote.
Register of Deeds
Incumbent Register of Deeds Ashley Newport Riseden ran unopposed and received 5,990 courtesy votes. There were 6 write-in votes.
Circuit Court Clerk
Four-term incumbent Circuit Court Clerk Donnie Phillips ran unopposed and received 5,408 courtesy votes. There were 30 write-in votes.
Assessor of Property
In a special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Anthony “Tony” Sexton, appointed incumbent Tiffany Jeffers won a three-way race, receiving 3,514 votes, or 52.6%. Helenwood businessman Tim Phillips received 2,639 votes, or 39.5%. Former deputy Circuit Court Clerk and County Commissioner Daniel Murley — who did not actively campaign — received 522 votes, or 7.8%.
General Sessions Judge
In a race to replace retiring General Sessions Judge James L. “Jamie” Cotton Jr., Scarlett Ellis won a four-way battle to become Scott County’s first-ever woman judge. She received 2,126 votes, or 31.2%. Andy Tillman received 1,752 votes, or 25.7%. Charles Patrick Sexton received 1,505 votes, or 22.1%. Howard Ellis received 1,428 votes, or 21.0%.
County Commission
There were nine new commissioners elected to the 14-member county legislative body.
1st District: Incumbents David “Blue” Day and David R. Jeffers won re-election with 499 and 393 votes, respectively. Challenger Jagger Coffey received 383 votes, Lacey Strunk received 268 votes, Gail Donovan received 70 votes, and Robert “Speedy” Blevins received 66 votes. There were five write-in votes.
2nd District: Challengers Joyce Keeton and Taylor Buttram Stephens were elected, receiving 361 and 326 votes, respectively. Challenger Michelle Storey-Terry received 324 votes. Appointed incumbent Jennifer Honeycutt Dishman received 215 votes. Challenger Suzanne L. Vannier received 51 votes. There were two write-in votes.
3rd District: Incumbent Sheila Buttram and challenger Amy Jeffers were elected with 543 and 506 votes, respectively. Incumbent Kenny Morrow received 425 votes. There were five write-in votes.
4th District: Incumbents Shonda Gray and Kenny Chadwell were re-elected with 572 and 516 votes, respectively. There were six write-in votes.
5th District: Challengers Kelly Posey-Chitwood and Robyn McBroom were elected with 398 and 314 votes, respectively. Incumbent Paul Strunk received 302 votes, while challenger Logan Strunk received 281 votes and challenger Katrina Duncan received 108 votes. There was one write-in vote.
6th District: Challengers Colby Burke and Shon Terry were elected with 533 and 219 votes, respectively. Challenger Torrey Slaven received 218 votes. Incumbents Patti Brown and Donnie Bowlin received 214 and 184 votes, respectively. There were five write-in votes.
7th District: Challengers Tom Payne and Jared Burke were elected with 869 and 839 votes, respectively. There were two write-in votes.
County School Board
There were two new members elected to the Scott County Board of Education.
1st District: Incumbent Tommy Silcox was unopposed and received 650 courtesy votes. There were 157 write-in votes.
4th District: Incumbent Kimberly Kidd was unopposed and received 738 courtesy votes. There were seven write-in votes.
5th District: Challenger Angela Anderson King was elected with 598 votes after incumbent Esther Abbott chose not to seek re-election. Challenger Richard J. Smith received 229 votes.
7th District: Challenger Tressa Murphy was elected with 611 votes. Incumbent Derek Sexton received 569 votes.
OSSD School Board
There were two new members elected to the Oneida Special School District Board of Education. Challengers Kevin Byrd and Mark Matthews were elected with 498 and 426 votes, respectively. Incumbent Dorothy Hill Watson was re-elected with 393 votes. Challenger Brandon Ryan received 391 votes. Incumbent Stuart Jones received 305 votes.