Government

On Nov. 6, voters will be casting ballots for national, state and local offices, but the local races may have already been decided.

Unless someone files to run as a write-in candidate, there will not be any contested races for city or school board offices. The deadline for write-in candidates to file is Oct. 26.

In Lebanon, the only candidates who have filed are the six incumbents on the Lebanon City Council. They are Jerry Abell, Denise Fogle, Jay Grundy, Kate Palagi, Jim Richardson and Darin Spalding.

While prices for groceries and gas continue to rise, Marion Countians can breathe a little easier knowing their county taxes won't follow suit.

During its Aug. 9 meeting, Marion County Judge/Executive John G. Mattingly recommended that the county not raise taxes, and the Marion County Fiscal Court voted unanimously to keep its 2012 tax rates the same as last year.

"We've never raised them, so I'd hate to start now," Magistrate Jackie Wicker said.

A wide variety of offices - from city hall up to the White House - will be on the ballot Nov. 6.

Local candidates who would like to run for seats in non-partisan races have until 4 p.m. Aug. 14 to file with the Marion County Clerk's Office. Write-in candidates have until Oct. 26 to file to run.

The biggest race on the fall ballot will pit incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden again Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who has not yet named his running mate.

During its July 19 meeting, the Marion County Fiscal Court approved the second reading of an ordinance allowing bonds to be issued for the construction of new warehouses for Marker's Mark. The magistrates approved the ordinance, 4-1, with Magistrate Roger "Cotton" Smothers casting the opposing vote.
The ordinance allows $187 million in industrial bonds to be issued toward the construction of warehouses in Loretto as part of a Maker's Mark expansion.