MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Editor
Posted: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 6:12 pm

The anti-incumbent wave of this mid-term election was evident in the City Café’s straw poll.

City Café owner Scott Perkins announced the results of the straw poll for the Aug. 5 State and National Primary and County General Election Tuesday morning.

Local businesswoman Lou Ann Zelenik eked out a win over the other Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives 6th District seat with 79 votes. Frontrunners State Sen. Jim Tracy finished with 78 votes and State Sen. Diane Black garnered 9 votes.

On the Democratic side, retired Marine Ben Leming received 47 votes. Opponents Henry Clay Barry and George Erdel received two and one vote respectively. Opponents Devora Butler and Brett Carter did not receive any votes.

“This is just one indicator that my message of putting the mission first in Washington is resonating with voters,” Leming said.

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The county commission poll held the most surprises for incumbents with four incumbent commissioners lagging behind their challengers.

In the District 7 race, incumbent Gary Farley trounced challenger Eddie Kitzler 33-4 with Dave Beardsley, the other challenger, receiving six votes. (Corrected)

In the District 8 race, Billy Pitmon came out on top of a heavily contested race with 36 votes. Tiffany Jones received 21 votes, Incumbent Ron Williams only received nine votes and Lisa Toombs garnered six votes.

In the District 12 race, challenger Robert New received nine votes, with incumbent Rick Hall receiving six votes and Robert Stevens three votes.

In the District 13 race, Paul Johnson came out ahead with 41 votes. Incumbent Jeff Jordan only received 17 votes.

The county commission races also have two open seats in Districts 11, 14 and 16.

In District 11, Chris Deal beat out his challengers with 13 votes. Rhonda Allen received seven votes and Terry Ward two votes.

In District 14, Jacoby O’Gwynn received 16 votes to challengers Charles Baum’s six and Jerry Sartain’s five votes.

Avent Lane came out on top of the District 16 race over Matthew Young 16-12.

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In the governor’s race, Bill Haslam trumped his Republican opponents with 89 votes. Ron Ramsey came in a close second with 86 votes and Zach Wamp finished third with 31 votes.

In the other contested state primaries, local photographer Bill Shacklett beat his opponent Mike Williams 49-40 in the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s House of Representatives 34th District. Republican Rick Womick is running unopposed.

In the State House 62nd District race, incumbent Pat Marsh trounced opponent Joseph Byrd 59-17 in the Republican Primary. Democrat Jenny Hunt beat opponent Mike Winton 15-7.

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In the County General Election, incumbent Mayor Ernest Burgess received 141 to challenger David Limbaugh’s 46 votes.

Sheriff Truman Jones eked out a win with 119 votes to opponent Robert Arnold’s 110 votes.

Circuit Court Clerk Eloise Gaither beat challenger Laura Bohling 78-33.

In the County Clerk race, Democrat Lisa Harrell received 103 votes and Republican candidate Lisa Duke-Crowell garnered 96 votes.

Incumbent Register of Deeds Jennifer Meagher Gerhart won over Heather Drawbarn 54-32.

In a previous interview, Perkins noted the poll has been about and 96-97 percent accurate for national elections and 98-99 percent accurate in local races in the past 25 years.

He noted candidates and the people who support them make special visits to the café during straw poll season.