Sullivan mayoral race sees pro-Zane Vanover mailer, Harshbarger endorsement of Angie Stanley

BLOUNTVILLE — A recent political action committee mailer opposing Sullivan County mayoral hopeful Zane Vanover in the May 5 Republican primary claims he is "bankrolled by Ballad Health." However, the contributions apparently in question are from Ballad employees, not the healthcare system itself. Meanwhile, a pro-Vanover mailer — sent by his campaign, received by some Monday — calls out the PAC flyers under investigation by Tennessee. It was the fourth of five planned mailers, Vanover said in a brief interview Tuesday morning. The anti-Vanover mail piece, which makes no mention of Vanover's Republican opponent, Angie Stanley, is from the Tennessee Stand PAC. The PAC is under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, TBI spokeswoman Leslie Earhart confirmed Friday, at the behest of Sullivan County Attorney General Barry Staubus. The Tennessee Stands organization filed a complaint with the Tennessee Registry of Elections last week over a series of flyers dating back to February. Tennessee Stands did not have a PAC at the time of the first Tennessee Stand PAC mailer, but recently registered a PAC under its name with the state. The PAC flyers — which have the standard "not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee" language — show two campaign finance form entries from Vanover's financial disclosure form, covering the Jan. 16 to March 31 first quarter period. The forms include a $1,500 contribution and a $1,035 contribution from a "health care exec" for Ballad. The flip side says: "If you like Ballad Health, you will love Zane Vanover . . ." and that "They sure seem to!" FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES The financial disclosure forms, which are public records and available online from the Sullivan County Election Commission at sullivancountytn.easyvotecampaignfinance.com, show Vanover received only one PAC donation from NASH PAC, of former state Sen. John Lundberg, for $500. In the mayoral race — which will be decided in the May 5 Republican primary, since the winner faces no opposition in the Aug. 6 general election — Stanley has repeatedly said her No. 1 issue is healthcare, specifically helping competition by another hospital or hospitals coming into the region to compete with Ballad. Vanover responded that the contributions were from individuals, not the healthcare system. Contributors with an apparent Ballad connection include Andrew Wampler, who is Ballad Health's general counsel, giving $1,500 and Ballad Health Senior Vice President Carl "Steve" Kilgore with $1,035. Their names are redacted on the flyer, and they are referred to as "health care executives" at Ballad. Outside direct Ballad references, Vanover received donations that included retired Holston Medical Group founder Jerry Miller, who donated $1,000; retiring County Attorney Dan Street, who gave $1,000 to Vanover and $100 to Stanley; John Gregory of Gregory Pharmaceutical Holdings with $1,900; Joan Gregory with $1,900; County Clerk Bobby Russell, $250; former Mayor Pat Shull, $150; attorney James. M. Shull, $300; Jessica Baker and Jerry Baker of Baker Construction, $1,900 each; Jeremey Baker of Baker Construction, $1,900; retired surgeon George Testerman, $1,000; Warren Feathers of Workspace Interiors, $1,900; Barbara Street of J.A. Street & Associates, $1,500; former Mayor Dennis Phillips, $500; Sanofi pharmaceuticals sales person Jo Zimmerman with separate contributions of $300 and $1,000; and retired county Trustee Frances Harrell, $100. For the period Jan. 16 to March 31, 2026, Vanover reported a balance on hand at the beginning for $17,016.65, receipts of $36,755, disbursements of $49,620.02 and an ending balance of hand of $4,151.63. Stanley, during the same period, reported a balance on hand at the beginning of $98,221.99, receipts of $11,330.75, and ending balance on hand of $75,005.22 and total loans outstanding of $99,000. Her contributions included $100 from conservative emailer Mark Easterly of Blountville; retiring County Attorney Dan Street's $100; Mitch Walters, a vehicle dealer, $200; McCoy's Grocery owner Jamie McCoby, $1,900; Raffaele's Restaurant owner Rich Misciagna; AstraZeneca drug saleswoman Sarah Jones; former Sullivan County school board member Evelyn Bales, $250; and retired physician Richard Reed $100. Also, Stanley's mother, Faye Ward, gave an in-kind contribution of $500 for a meet and greet event food at Janie's Place. ENDORSEMENT, AGAIN U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-1st, has released a text endorsement of Stanley labeled "By Diana for Congress," following an announcement earlier this month of that same Harshbarger endorsement via the Tennessee Stand PAC. Vanover so far has an endorsement from former Kingsport Mayor Pat Shull. EARLY VOTING NEARS END Meanwhile, early voting in the May 2026 primary is on a trajectory to possibly be higher than 2022 early voting. Sullivan County Administrator of Elections Jason Booher said, via email, that the in-person, early voting ballots, as of Monday, were as follows: There were 3,106 ballots in 2022 and 4,684 this year in the Republican primary; and in the Democratic primary, 80 in 2022 and 173 this year. The three early voting sites are the Civic Auditorium at 1550 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport; the Sullivan County Election Commission Office, 3258 Highway 126, Site 103, Blountville; and the Slater Center, 326 McDowell St., Bristol. All three will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. On the regular election day of May 5, polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.