(CARTER COUNTY) – There are 11 candidates running for county offices in the March 5 Carter County Republican Party’s primary election, but there are only three contested races.
Only one of the contested races is for a countywide office. The countywide race is for the GOP nomination for assessor of property, which will be an open seat because current Assessor Ronnie Taylor has announced he is retiring. Two men, John Holsclaw Jr. and Shane Simerly have announced their candidacy to succeed Taylor.
The race for assessor is unique across Tennessee because the office is contested during years in which there are presidential elections. Most countywide offices are contested during the even numbered years that fall between presidential election years.