Oak Ridge City Council · Nov 3, 2026

Ellen D. Smith

Candidate for City Council (incumbent)

6 candidates · 4 seats9 sourced positions

Ellen D. Smith, the incumbent, is running for Oak Ridge City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 6 candidates are running for 4 seats.

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Voter registration deadline · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Oak Ridge council member who has served on the council in two separate stints totaling 17 years.

Occupation (from candidate statement): Independent Candidate

Warren Gooch, L.C. "Charlie" Hensley and Ellen D. Smith are the three council members seeking re-election; Greta Stoutt Ownby, Steve Duncan and Joe Gaddis are newcomers. The Oak Ridger (via Yahoo) · Sep 24, 2026

Where Ellen D. Smith stands: positions on the record

Industrial rezoning (Horizon Center)2 sourced positions

Voted no on the ordinance rezoning 96.5 acres of Horizon Center Development Area 5 from IND-2 to IND-3 (failed 3-3, July 2025).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Jul 14, 2025
Voted no on first reading of the ordinance rezoning 96.5 acres of Horizon Center Development Area 5 from IND-2 to IND-3 (passed 5-2, January 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Jan 12, 2026

Lafayette/Illinois rezoning2 sourced positions

Voted no on the ordinance rezoning 3.79 acres at Lafayette Drive and South Illinois Avenue from single-family residential to a unified business district with a planned unit development overlay (passed 4-2, July 2025).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Jul 14, 2025
Voted no on first reading of the ordinance rezoning 3.79 acres at Lafayette Drive and South Illinois Avenue to UB-2/PUD, a unified business district with a planned unit development overlay (passed 5-2, January 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Jan 12, 2026

Attached housing (R-3)1 sourced position

Voted yes on first reading of the ordinance allowing single-family attached dwellings on individual lots by right in R-3 districts at up to 16 units per acre (passed 5-0 with two members absent, March 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Mar 9, 2026

Zero lot line setbacks2 sourced positions

Voted yes on first reading of the ordinance allowing zero lot line setbacks for sides and rear between abutting industrial parcels in the same district (passed 4-1, March 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Mar 9, 2026
Voted yes on the motion to refer the zero lot line setback ordinance back to the Planning Commission (failed 2-3, March 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Mar 9, 2026

Energy-sector development1 sourced position

Voted yes on a $65,000 agreement with Davenport & Company to model revenues and expenses of energy-sector development projects (passed 7-0, January 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Jan 12, 2026

Nuclear fuel emergency response1 sourced position

Voted yes on the consent agenda that included a $60,000 agreement with Spectra Tech to assess the city's needs for emergency response to nuclear fuel storage (passed 7-0, January 2026).
Council voteOak Ridge City Council · Jan 12, 2026

Also running for City Council

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