County Elections Decide Four More Years

Story of the year: Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain got a second term on August 2, winning 49.9% of the vote, defeating Kandy Shackelford (35%) and Calvin Howell (15%). A total of 5,806 voted in the election, with 5,568 voting in the mayor’s race.
Sain won 12 of 13 precincts, falling only in Lacy, where Shackelford was victorious.
Hardeman County Sheriff John Doolen won his third term, while other county-wide races went to Casey Swift (Highway Superintendent) and Billy Davis (Circuit Court Clerk).
The May Democratic Primary settled all other county-wide races, as Register of Deeds (Lily Barnes), County Clerk (Jerry Armstrong), and Trustee (Mary Powell) all ran unopposed in August.
While the county got continuity at the top, the county commission changed with five new members winning competitive races.

More Stories We Covered in 2018:
January 18 - The Hardeman County School Board, recognized as a “Board of Distinction” by the Tennessee School Board Association, was honored with a resolution from Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain..
To qualify for “Board of Distinction Status,” boards must meet specific standards in the four areas of emphasis within a two-year period. Specific requirements for the award include conducting a superintendent evaluation, developing a five-year plan, participating in a board retreat, conducting an annual review of all board policies, being represented at the TSBA Delegate Assembly, adopting the TSBA Code of Ethics and participating in a board self-evaluation.
Photo: Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain (center) with Hardeman County Superintendent of Schools Warner Ross II, and Deputy Director Bobby Doyle.
February 1 - An arrest was made in the stalking of City Councilman Jonathan Joy. A Bolivar woman turned herself in to the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Department on January 28, in response to a warrant issued for her arrest on January 26 on the charge.

To view more, please log in or subscribe to the digital edition.