Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. If you’re like most voters you probably have very strong opinions about those two names, but wherever you fall on the political spectrum it’s likely that you’re just ready for this election cycle to be over.
Voters across the nation have been focusing in on the policies and character of the presidential candidates for over a year now. While it is important to be informed on these issues, candidates running for state and local positions often get lost in the noise. Voters frequently forget that when they go to vote there will be more on the ballot than just presidential candidates.
Many ETSU students are from Johnson City and thus will be voting as residents of Washington County. If you are from this area here is a brief rundown of what to expect on your ballot besides presidential candidates.
U.S. Representative:
At the national level, every Tennessee voter will be voting for a U.S. Representative. The candidates for this position are Alan Bohms (Democrat), Phil Roe (Republican) and Robert D. Franklin (Independent). Bohms is a self-described family man and volunteer firefighter who stands for the rights of marginalized groups, wants to get big money out of politics and is a proud supporter of second amendment rights. Roe is the incumbent for this position and is a pro-life physician who wants to repeal Obamacare, support second amendment rights and increase border security. Finally, Franklin is a U.S. Navy veteran who wants to enforce immigration laws, support term limits and reduce national debt.
State Representative:
At the state level, citizens of Washington County will be able to vote for a State Representative for House District 7. The candidates for this position are Matthew Hill (Republican) and Nancy Fischman. Hill is the incumbent and is dedicated to repealing Obamacare, upholding second amendment rights and furthering the pro-life agenda. Fischman has been a Johnson City resident since 1978 and wants to expand medicaid, invest in education and provide equal treatment for minorities in the Washington County community.
Local Representative:
Finally, at the local level there are several candidates for Johnson City Commissioner. Voters will choose three candidates from the list to be part of the city’s legislative body. There are also several candidates for the Johnson City School Board. Again voters will choose three candidates from the list who they want to oversee decisions about school governance, instruction and policy.
To find out more information visit wcecoffice.com where you can view a pdf of a sample ballot for the November 2016 election. Happy Voting!
