2008 Woodie Awards
City elects two new members to school board
Mark Bell
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
Three incumbents retained their seats in the Murfreesboro City Council election on Tuesday, while one school board member was replaced and one school board vacancy was filled.
Murfreesboro Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher, Toby Gilley and Ron Washington were reelected for another four-year term in the city council election. They defeated Dave Beardsly, Eddie Smotherman and Jeff Weems.
One school board member, Patrick McCarthy, was replaced after serving only one term. The late Lon Nuell's vacant seat was also filled.
Voters replaced them with Walter Hill Principal Butch Campbell and education consultant Nancy Duggin.
Only 4,679 residents cast votes in this year's election. There were approximately 53,000 registered voters in the city.
That amounts to an 8.7 percent voter turnout rate, the lowest amount of voter turnout in the past 10 years.
The closest contest in this year's city council election was between Murfreesboro Vice Mayor Bratcher, who received 2,237 votes, and Smotherman, who received 2,049, a difference of 188 votes.
Bratcher, who has served on the city council for 20 years, said he plans on improving the conditions of city employees, especially firefighters and police.
Bratcher said the low voter turnout was a reflection of voter satisfaction in the way the city is being run.
"A lot of times people vote against a candidate rather than for one," he told the Daily News Journal.
Bratcher also promised Murfreesboro residents he would work to ensure "no more property tax increases" for the 14th consecutive year.
Washington, who has served on the council for 10 years, said he was troubled by the lack of votes.
"We need to do a better job of getting people [out] to vote," he said.
Gilley won his third term on the city council. He agreed with Bratcher on his belief that Murfreesboro residents are happy with the way things are going.
Gilley said new developments like The Avenue Murfreesboro, Medical Center Parkway and the new hotel and conference center have made Murfreesboro "a model city," the envy of other communities.
The new Murfreesboro school board members will be sworn into service at a meeting set for May 27. Each member will earn $200 dollars a month for attending meetings.
Campell received 2,802 votes in the election, Duggin received 2,694. The two received more votes than any other candidate in the school board election.
Incumbents Nancy Phillips and Susan Andrews received 1,989 and 1,863 votes, respectively.
Phillips and Andrews both said they would miss working with McCarthy, who placed seventh.
"I look forward to serving with the new board members, but I tell you the board lost a great advocate for Murfreesboro City Schools with Patrick not finishing in the top four. It's been an honor to serve with him," Andrews told the Daily News Journal.
The late Nuell, who remained on the ballot, received 370 votes in his honor. Nuell died of a stroke last month after breaking his hip.
Murfreesboro Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher, Toby Gilley and Ron Washington were reelected for another four-year term in the city council election. They defeated Dave Beardsly, Eddie Smotherman and Jeff Weems.
One school board member, Patrick McCarthy, was replaced after serving only one term. The late Lon Nuell's vacant seat was also filled.
Voters replaced them with Walter Hill Principal Butch Campbell and education consultant Nancy Duggin.
Only 4,679 residents cast votes in this year's election. There were approximately 53,000 registered voters in the city.
That amounts to an 8.7 percent voter turnout rate, the lowest amount of voter turnout in the past 10 years.
The closest contest in this year's city council election was between Murfreesboro Vice Mayor Bratcher, who received 2,237 votes, and Smotherman, who received 2,049, a difference of 188 votes.
Bratcher, who has served on the city council for 20 years, said he plans on improving the conditions of city employees, especially firefighters and police.
Bratcher said the low voter turnout was a reflection of voter satisfaction in the way the city is being run.
"A lot of times people vote against a candidate rather than for one," he told the Daily News Journal.
Bratcher also promised Murfreesboro residents he would work to ensure "no more property tax increases" for the 14th consecutive year.
Washington, who has served on the council for 10 years, said he was troubled by the lack of votes.
"We need to do a better job of getting people [out] to vote," he said.
Gilley won his third term on the city council. He agreed with Bratcher on his belief that Murfreesboro residents are happy with the way things are going.
Gilley said new developments like The Avenue Murfreesboro, Medical Center Parkway and the new hotel and conference center have made Murfreesboro "a model city," the envy of other communities.
The new Murfreesboro school board members will be sworn into service at a meeting set for May 27. Each member will earn $200 dollars a month for attending meetings.
Campell received 2,802 votes in the election, Duggin received 2,694. The two received more votes than any other candidate in the school board election.
Incumbents Nancy Phillips and Susan Andrews received 1,989 and 1,863 votes, respectively.
Phillips and Andrews both said they would miss working with McCarthy, who placed seventh.
"I look forward to serving with the new board members, but I tell you the board lost a great advocate for Murfreesboro City Schools with Patrick not finishing in the top four. It's been an honor to serve with him," Andrews told the Daily News Journal.
The late Nuell, who remained on the ballot, received 370 votes in his honor. Nuell died of a stroke last month after breaking his hip.
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