By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE - Voters will be electing a new Rogersville City School board member this November.   Current Board Chairman Dan Brooks has opted not to seek re-election.
    Brooks and fellow board member Reed Matney, along with Todd Biggs, had filed qualifying petitions in the race for seats "three" and "four" on the five member school board.  Brooks officially withdrew from the race by Thursday's deadline.
    Brooks joined the board in 1983 when members were appointed by the Rogersville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.   In the 1990s the Tennessee legislature adopted several education reforms, including laws requiring the appointment of directors, formerly known as superintendents, and the election of board members.  Brooks remained on the board as an elected member.
    "We have a good school," he stated.
"I would have to say no matter who was on the board we have always had a good working relationship. We have always had board members who care about the school and that shows."
    With Brooks' departure, Biggs and Matney will be the only two candidates on the ballot seeking the seats, which will be elected for four year terms.  Board members William Phillips II and R. Frank Testerman are seeking seats designated as "one" and "two" on the board.  The fifth seat, held by Joyce Simon, will be on the ballot in 2010, along with seats "one" and "two."
    Brooks said he knows Biggs and believes "he'll do a good job" as a board member.
    The long-time board chairman said he was pleased to have been a part of many significant projects, including an expansion and renovation of the school.  He also noted everything that has been accomplished has been a group effort.
    "I would like to thank the city council for always working with us.  I would like to thank all the teachers and school staff who each do a fantastic job," Brooks said.  "They have made it easy to be on the board."
    Although he will be leaving the school board, Brooks said he would still like to play a role in helping students by establishing a nursing scholarship at ETSU for former RCS students, a project he has been working on with university administrators.
    "I had set up a scholarship for football players but ETSU doesn't have a football program anymore.  With the money that is there now we should be able to award two scholarships," Brooks explained.
    He said he also intends to set up a school endowment to help RCS students offset the cost of school related projects, such as class trips, so all students will be able to participate in activities.
    "I have been on the school board for 25 years.   I have enjoyed it but I felt this was just the right time to step away," Brooks said.
    Following Thursdays deadline to withdraw as a candidate the ballot is set for several other municipal elections.
    Bulls Gap voters will be electing a mayor and four aldermen to two-year terms of office.
    Mayor Robin Horner faces no opposition in his race for a second two-year term.  Incumbents Jimmy Sexton, Susan Williams, Charles Johnson and Rickey Pete Shipley all filed paper work to seek re-election.  Charles H. Roark withdrew his qualifying petition, leaving John Barnes, Jr. as the lone challenger in the race for an alderman's seat.
    In Surgoinsville five candidates are in the race for one of three aldermen slots.  The winning candidates will serve four-year terms.
    Incumbent Don Thurman filed a qualifying petition.  Other candidates seeking one of the three seats include Marc Borghetti, Hanes Cooper, Larry L. Dykes and Joe McLain.
    Mount Carmel voters will be electing a mayor and three aldermen, all for four-year terms.
    Incumbent Mayor Gary Lawson is running unopposed.  Incumbents Eugene Christian and Carl E. Wolfe are seeking re-election to the BMA.   William Blakely, L. Paul Hale and Kathy Roberts round out the field of five candidates seeking one of the three aldermen seats.