Growth and residential development in Loudon County turned out pivotal for county commission candidates in the May 3 primary.
The election might be viewed as a referendum on a moratorium on Planned Unit Developments passed by Loudon County Commission in October and renewed in February. Commission began the process of making the ban permanent in April.
The moratorium put a temporary halt to high-density residential developments. County policy allows up to 2.5 units per acre on tracts of 75 acres or more.
The ban was opposed by the Homebuilders Association of Greater Knoxville and a related political action committee that provided campaign support to several candidates.
Two incumbents on commission who voted against the moratorium — Julia Hurley and Matthew Tinker — lost bids for reelection. Both candidates represented District 2 in Lenoir City.
Hurley, who was running for Seat A, lost 633-247 to William Jenkins. Jenkins, who said he was for controlled growth, did not favor the ban but was targeted by a PAC that questioned his legitimacy as a Republican candidate because had once voted as a Democrat.
Jenkins said after the election he thought the attempt to question his candidacy had backfired.
“The people know me,” he said.
Dennis Lanham placed third in the Seat A race with 170 votes.
Rosemary Hines Quillen, a Realtor and opponent of the ban on PUDs, edged Tinker 529-496. Quillen was formerly a member of commission representing Lenoir City.
“I’m really glad to be back on commission and looking forward to helping to deal with the challenges facing our county, including the issue of growth,” Quillen said.
Incumbent commissioners Van Shaver and Adam Waller, both challenged by pro-development candidates backed by the support of homebuilders, retained their seats. Both had been strong supporters of the ban on PUDs.
Shaver won District 5, Seat B with 1,484 votes to challenger Eddie Simpson’s 833. Simpson was a vocal opponent of the moratorium on PUDs and received direct mail support from the PAC representing homebuilders.
“I think this was definitely a referendum on the issue of overdevelopment,” Shaver said. “The people have spoken and I intend to do the will of the people.”
Shaver said during his campaign he had spoken with thousands of residents in the district. He said the vast majority were not in favor of more high-density developments.
Waller retained his seat in District 6 against a challenge from developer Mark Matlock with a healthy margin of 698-333 votes. Matlock also received support from the homebuilders PAC.
“I think the people of Loudon County are smart enough to see through those special interests,” Waller said.
He said voters in his part of the county are especially aware of the dangers of overdevelopment.
“They don’t want to see rooftops, rooftops, rooftops,” Waller said.
Three other incumbent commissioners who voted to ban PUDs retained their seats. Harold Duff, who voted for the ban twice, retained District 5, Seat A by beating challenger David Ball 1,097-700. Pat Hunter received 382 votes to come in third.
Bill Satterfield, representing District 3, and Gary Whitfield, representing District 4, did not face a challenger. Both voted for the PUD ban.
Chase Randolph won District 1, Seat A with 965 votes to second-place challenger Joe Newman’s 647. Mike Young came in third with 243 votes.
During a recent candidate forum, Randolph vowed to keep taxes low but took middle ground on the moratorium, saying he would look to find common ground between those on either side of the issue.
Incumbent David Meers, who voted for the ban but focused his campaign on improving medical infrastructure in the county, lost District 1, Seat B to small businessman William Geames 999-814. Geames said during the campaign he was for controlled growth but didn’t specifically say how he would vote on the ban.
Henry Cullen, incumbent commissioner from District 7, also voted for the ban. He faced no Republican challenger in the primary and secured 1,265 votes.
Cullen will face the lone Democrat running for commission, Kenneth Moore, in the August election. Moore, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, received 129 votes.
