Nicholson vs. Hawk,

Ford Against Yokley

In November Election

By NELSON MORAIS

Staff Writer

Winning their parties' nominations in uncontested primary races Thursday were State Reps. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, and state Rep. Eddie Yokley, D-11th, of Greene County.

Their challengers, the Rev. Casey Nicholson, who will face Hawk, and Dan Ford, who will face Yokley, also won in uncontested races Thursday.

According to unofficial election results, incumbent State Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, received 2,238 complimentary votes in Greene County in Thursday's uncontested Republican primary election.

Hawk's tally far outpaced the 317 complimentary votes that his fall opponent, Casey Nicholson, received in Thursday's Democratic primary in Greene County.

Hawk and Nicholson ran unopposed in their respective Republican and Democratic primaries.

In addition, Hawk received 2,064 votes Thursday in Unicoi County, for a total of 4,302 votes.

By comparison, Nicholson received 177 votes in Unicoi County, for a total of 494 votes.

"I'm very honored to receive such a strong complimentary primary vote," Hawk said this morning.

"I appreciate the confidence that the voters of the 5th District have had in me over the last six years, and I am going to work very hard between now and November."

Nicholson this morning credited Hawk's high numbers in part to "the hotly-contested U.S. House (of Representatives) race between David Davis and Dr. Phil Roe," which he said drew a strong interest among Republicans to turn out and vote.

Nicholson said this morning he, too, was "looking to win in the general election" on Nov. 4 when more Democrats were likely to turn out to vote.

Yokley To Face Ford

Dan Ford got 965 complimentary votes in Greene County in the uncontested Republican primary.

State Rep. Eddie Yokley, D-11th, of Greene County, received 292 complimentary votes in the uncontested Democratic primary.

Ford said this morning, "The support from complimentary votes looks pretty good, but I don't take this as a win, but as a good omen."

He added, "We've got a good-looking base. We'll fertilize it, cultivate it and try to pull out a win in November."

Reached at home this morning, Yokley said he looked forward to the general election in November and "talking to the citizens of Greene County and Cocke County about the issues that concern them" in the months before the election.