Long To Represent 3rd District On Sullivan County Commission

By Mac McLean
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: August 7, 2008

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Bart Long will be the next person to represent the Sullivan County Commission’s 3rd District after winning Thursday’s election, according to unofficial results from the county elections office.

“I’m just tickled to death and want to thank everybody who got out and supported me,” Long said in a phone interview after the results were announced.

The commission’s 3rd District covers the west edge of Bristol, which stretches from the Volunteer Parkway to the Tennessee/Virginia state line. Voters cast their ballots at the Anderson Elementary School precinct in Bristol.

Long, who works as a real estate auctioneer in Bristol, Va., got 235 votes in the election or 63 percent of ballots cast. His opponent, former Eastman Chemical Co. manager Robert Neal, received 136 votes or 37 percent.

“That’s disappointing, but the voters have spoken,” Neal said in a phone interview, adding that he did not have any immediate plans to get back into politics but may change his mind in the future.

Long will take the seat formerly held by Commissioner Jon Harr of Bristol, who was appointed after his father, Ralph Harr, died in November. He served on the panel for 31 years.

Jon Harr said in April that he would not seek another term because of personal and professional reasons. Long will serve the remaining two years of Ralph Harr’s term.

County voters also picked Larry Hall to represent the County Commission’s 6th District in Kingsport. Hall is chairman of the Sullivan County Democratic Party and works as the county school system’s human resources supervisor.

The 6th District spans from Interstate 81 to the east Kingsport city limits.

Its voters cast their ballots at the Ketron Intermediate School and Indian Springs Elementary School precincts in Kingsport, and at Blountville’s Central Heights Elementary School.

Hall, who received 39 percent of ballots cast, was one of five candidates to run for the seat previously held by Commissioner Pat Patrick of Kingsport.

The commission appointed Pat Patrick to the seat after her husband, Commissioner Howard Patrick of Kingsport, died in January after 14 years as a commissioner. Hall will serve the remaining two years of the term.

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