More than dozen qualify for state, federal, Farragut elections

State Rep. Martin Daniel – whose recent comments about ISIS recruitment placed him at the center of recent controversy – has drawn three opponents in his re-election bid for the 18th District seat.

He is the only local state House member whose seat is up this term who faces a challenger in the Aug. 4 state primary.

The deadline to qualify for this summer’s state and federal primaries was noon Thursday.

As it stands, there are seven state House seats, one state Senate seat and one Congressional House seat up for grabs.

In addition, the town of Farragut, which holds its election on the same day, has two races for alderman seats.

Here’s a snapshot of those contests: 

• No one challenged long-time Republican Congressman John Duncan Jr in the primary but he will face Stuart Starr, a Democrat from Loudon County, in the Nov. 8 general election.
   
• No one challenged Duncan’s sister, Becky Duncan Massey, for her 6th District state Senate seat in either the primary or general election.
   
• Local Legislative delegation Chairman Eddie Smith, who is in his first term, does not have an opponent in the primary for the 13th District seat. But, he will face his predecessor Gloria Johnson, a Democrat, in the November general election, which sets up a rematch from 2014.
   
• No one qualified to run against Republican Jason Zachary, who won a special election last year for the 14thDistrict seat. However, he will face Democrat Scott Hacker in the general election.
   
• Joe Armstrong, the only Democrat in the local Legislative delegation, doesn't have an opponent for the 15th District seat in the primary. But, he faces perennial candidate and independent Pete Drew in November. However, Armstrong also is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 2 for charges of tax evasion and defrauding the IRS in connection with an alleged cigarette tax scheme.
   
• 16th District state Rep. Bill Dunn doesn’t have any opposition in either the primary or general election; nor does 19th District state Rep. Harry Brooks.
   
• 89th District state Rep. Roger Kane will not face an opponent in the primary, but Democrat Heather Hensley qualified to challenge him in November.

In Farragut, Ward 1 incumbent Louise Povlin, the owner of Anytime Fitness and a member of the Farragut Municipal Planning Commission, will face Richard Cataldi, a career military officer and former member of the town’s planning committee.

No one qualified to challenge Ron Williams for the Ward II seat.

The Farragut elections are non-partisan.

Most of the state candidates probably won’t begin campaigning heavily for another few months.

That more than likely won’t be the case for the 18th District state House seat currently held by Martin.

Martin, a Knoxville Republican in his first term, will face Steve Hall, his predecessor whom he narrowly defeated two years ago for the seat; Bryan Dodson, a pizza deliverer and former political adviser to ex-state Sen. Stacey Campfield; and local attorney James Corcoran.

The winner will face Democrat Brandi Price, an attorney, in the November general election.