Cindy Rutledge, Austin Ray Bradley run for Hawkins County clerk

HAWKINS COUNTY — Two candidates are running to be the Hawkins County clerk. The clerk's office provides various record-keeping and licensing services. They also keep the minutes for county commission meetings. As both candidates — Cindy Rutledge and Austin Ray Bradley — are Republicans, voters will choose one to represent the party in the May 5 primary election. The winner will move on, unopposed, to the general election on Aug. 6. Nancy Davis, the current county clerk since 2014, told the Kingsport Times News that she is retiring. Davis endorsed Rutledge to be her successor. Cindy Rutledge Rutledge has been a deputy clerk for 38 years in the Hawkins County Clerk's Office, and the chief deputy since 2014. "I've worked under three previous clerks, which has given me a lot of valuable experiences on how the office operates," she said. "I know it's very important to the community. I'd like to end my career by serving as clerk." Rutledge said she's a lifelong Hawkins resident. After attending Walters State Community College for two years, she worked for a senior citizens center and then the county clerk's office. Rutledge said she's served in just about every role at the office. If elected as the county clerk, Rutledge said she wants to reopen driver license services to five days a week. The office hasn't done this since before the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, for lack of manpower. Currently, the services are available two days a week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The clerk's office can renew licenses, make duplicates, register people to vote and register organ donors, according to its website. Rutledge said she wants to ensure the office gives strong customer service. "Next to your home, your vehicle is the most expensive thing you have. You want to ensure that it's handled properly," she said. "The law requires us to be organized. I want to be able to serve the people of Hawkins County as efficiently as I can." Austin Ray Bradley Bradley was initially running for District 6 constable. However, he said he struggled to get an appointment for a mental evaluation in time for the candidate filing deadline; constables must provide a letter from a psychologist stating they are mentally and cognitively fit, according to state law. Bradley prayed about how he needed to go further. He saw the county clerk race was, at the time, uncontested — and decided to "throw [his] hat in the ring." Bradley is a security officer at a plant in Greene County, working for Nighthawk Security for nearly three years. Part of his job, he said, is doing paperwork for trucks carrying loads of explosives. "We have to be stringent in our paperwork," Bradley said. "With my experience in that, I'm very efficient." He also said he's a people-person. He previously worked as a gas station clerk in Rogersville, and is a freelance writer. Bradley has an associate's degree from Walters State in political science, with a minor in mass communications. Bradley said his main goal, if elected as county clerk, is to decrease the county's wheel tax, a fee on registered vehicles. The county commission determines the wheel tax. "I'm running on that platform to where 'we the people' can make a difference. I'm trying to see if we can have a better quality of life for this county and make it more affordable," Bradley said. "I see Benjamin Franklin cry when I have to whip him out of my wallet to pay my taxes and only get back a few [dollars]."