CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Montgomery County Commission voted against a plan to hold primary elections for the county this week.
The vote was 16-3 with two commissioners abstaining, requesting local political parties not ask for a primary and withdraw the requests for a primary they have made.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties in Montgomery County have requested a political party preference primary for May 1 2018 and have until Friday, November 17 to withdraw that request from the Montgomery County Election Commission.
The resolution passed by the commission has no authority and says the offices of the county have not traditionally been viewed as offices sought on a basis of political affiliation. Another concern for the county is the cost of holding the political primary which would run around $150,000.
Tennessee law allows political parties in the state to nominate their candidates for county office for parties requesting a preference primary. The Tennessee State Primary and Montgomery County General Election is set for Thursday, August 2, 2018.
In the 2018 General Election the offices of Montgomery County Mayor, County Commission (all districts), Sheriff, Trustee, County Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, Register of Deeds, and School Board (Districts 1,3,5,& 7), will be decided.