News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Livingston City Council voted Monday night to move forward with the June city election as scheduled.
Aldermen Kelly Coleman, Ken Dodson, and Chris Speck voted against a motion to move the election to August. Mayor Curtis Hayes broke the tie, voting against the motion. The 4-3 vote means the city wants to move forward with a June 3 election.
“According to the governor, he’s wanting the economy and wanting folks to go back to work,” Hayes said. “If the election commission needs any extra help from the city, we’ll be able to provide gloves, we’ll be able to provide safety glasses, and be able to put tape down on the floor to stay with the six-foot rule.”
The Overton County Board of Elections voted earlier this month to postpone the election until August, citing health concerns about June voting.
Four candidates are vying for three seats in the Livingston Aldermen race. Mayor Hayes is running unopposed.
Alderman Ronald Dishman made the motion to move the election to August 6, citing concerns about election workers’ safety as well as the inability of residents at Overton County Health and Rehab Center to vote.
“I believe that citizens and taxpayers and voters of Livingston will completely understand,” Dishman said.
Hayes said he does not expect patients at Livingston Health and Rehab will be able to vote whether the election is held in June or August.
“Unless there’s a major breakthrough,” Hayes said. “They’re closed to the public, period.”
The city nor the county election commission can move the election date, but rather a judge must rule to make the move. City Attorney John Meadows said so long as all parties agreed on the petition filed to the chancery court, it would likely not be an issue.
