Letter: Vote for a qualified woman for Anderson County Commission

As a woman serving in elective public office (I’m on the Oak Ridge City Council), I like to see other qualified women run for election to local government offices.

In the Aug. 1 Anderson County general election, I am pleased to have the chance to vote for one such woman, Ebony Capshaw. She’s running for County Commission in District 6 (Robertsville, Senior Center, and West Hills precincts) and she’s someone I would be pleased to have as a colleague on a legislative body.

Ebony is a native of our community and a proud product of Oak Ridge Schools who continued her education with degrees from Clark Atlanta University, Roane State, and Johnson University. I have found her to be a smart and hard-working woman with a deep commitment to serving her community, and I am impressed at how she has honed her leadership skills through various professional and volunteer roles, particularly in healthcare and education. In recognition of her leadership qualities, she was recently announced as a member of the upcoming class of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, for development of early and mid-career professionals as leaders in our state.

I am confident that Ebony will give serious study to county issues and needs, ask citizens for their views and listen to what they say, and act in our best interests. She deserves my vote and yours!

Ellen Smith

Oak Ridge

EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter was received prior to the July 8 deadline for letters on specific candidates in the Aug. 1 election and inadvertently not published sooner.