Two more candidates have filed qualifying petitions for coming elections, one for the Greene County School board and the other for Democratic state committeeman.

Martell Bible, of 365 Weems Chapel Road, Mosheim, has filed to run to serve the unexpired two-year portion of the term of 4th School Board District member Debra Knight, who resigned in January.

Bible, 51, is a manager at the Food Lion store in Morristown.

He is a West Greene High School graduate, and has taken courses at Walters State Community College in addition to work-related training classes.

Asked why he is running, Bible said, "I feel like the kids deserve -- and we owe it to them -- to get the best education possible.

Bible said his involvement with the West Greene Booster Club and the school's Parent-Teacher Advisory Board has given him insight into "the obstacles confronting the teachers, students and parents."
Bible's wife teaches advanced mathematics at Morristown East High School, which he believes also provides him insights.

Now that his two sons have completed high school, Bible said, he believes he has the time to give to the school board.

Mike K. Hampton, of 502 N. Mohawk Drive, Erwin, is a candidate for Democratic state executive committee in the 1st Senatorial District (Greene, Cocke, Hamblen and Unicoi counties).

Hampton, 50, is an operations specialist at Nuclear Fuel Services and the current chairman of the Unicoi County Democratic Party.

Asked why he is running, Hampton said, "I'm running because I'm willing to work hard, whether in my job or in politics, and I've always been involved in politics."

He continued, "I'm one of the few people in this day and time that believes that government can help people. I believe that if you do the right thing, you can help people. I don't believe government is a bad thing. Waste is a bad thing, but if you help people, that's a good thing."