With opponent out, Mayor Rogero to cruise to re-election victory

Rogero

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, baring an unlikely and almost impossible write-in push, will easily win re-election to a second and final term.

William "Buck" Cochran, a self-employed writer who ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat in 2011, withdrew from the mayoral race Thursday morning.

That means Rogero needs 50 percent plus 1 vote in the Sept. 29 primary to automatically win a second four-year term as the city's mayor, as she will be exempt from the November general election, according to the city charter.

In addition, municipal Judge John Rosson, who also faces no opposition, will more than likely cruise to victory in September and not appear on the November ballot.

However, the charter does not include language for Knoxville City Council members – like George Wallace who is unopposed in his own re-election bid – to skip the general elections even if no one qualifies against them.

Cochran was not considered a serious candidate in the non-partisan mayoral race, but his withdrawal now all but assures Rogero's victory in a couple of months.

Thursday at noon was the deadline to withdraw from the city races.

Carly Baskette also withdrew from the "Seat B" City Council at-large seat, so that leaves incumbent Marshall Stair and perennial candidate Pete Drew in that race. But, those two will automatically go on to the general election, since the top two vote-getters in the city primaries automatically move on.

It appears now that the only drama in the city races will be for "Seat C" currently held by Finbarr Saunders who faces David Williams, Kelly Absher and Paul Bonovich.