Poor turnout in early voting for 14th Dist. House seat to replace Haynes

Carson, left, Zachary, right

Early voting wrapped up Friday with 2,631 voters going to the polls early to choose a GOP candidate to represent the state House's 14th District, according to the Knox County election administrator.

The primary election between Karen Carson and Jason Zachary is Aug. 12. The general election is Sept. 29, but no Democrat is running in the race.

The West Knox County district formerly was represented by Republican Ryan Haynes. There were three early voting sites, one at the City County Building, far from the actual district.

Early voting turnout represented a small fraction of  the almost 39,100 eligible district voters. It included 95 people who cast absentee ballots, according to Cliff Rodgers, election administrator.

Carson is a Knox County school board member. Zachary is a small businessman who ran a competitive race last year against U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.

The seat was formerly held by Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, who stepped down to take over the state GOP.