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Wells picked to represent Oak Ridge on Anderson County Commission
Oak Ridge resident Aaron Wells first ran for public office in 2007, when he was 23.
Now a few months shy of 40, he’s Anderson County’s newest commissioner, representing District 6 in Oak Ridge.
With six Oak Ridge residents applying to fill the unexpired term of former Commissioner Catherine Denenberg, who resigned last month and moved to Florida, the commission chose Wells at its Monday night meeting. Wells received 10 votes; followed by applicants Joel Hewett and Ebony Capshaw, who had two votes each. The other three residents to apply for the position were Carolyn Fogelman and Regina Guy, and former commissioner Steve Mead.
“There is no candidate who isn’t qualified,” Commissioner Tracy Wandell said after the six applicants spoke to commission and answered questions. “Every one of you brings something to the table.”
After the vote, Wells was immediately sworn in and joined the other commissioners in making decisions at the monthly Anderson County Commission meeting in the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.
Wells is a longtime Oak Ridger who, in addition to running for Oak Ridge school board in 2007, ran for this same commission seat three years later. He owns Lizz’s Wine & Spirits, 1505 Oak Ridge Turnpike. He is also an active community member, serving with many nonprofits, including as one of the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge board of directors members who stabilized the organization and hired Erin Webb as its director, as he explained in his written letter applying for the commission seat. He also chaired the Oak Ridge Convention & Visitors Bureau board when it hired leader Katy Watt.
Speaking to commission, Wells spoke of his grandparents moving to a house behind Willow Brook Elementary School in 1950 and building a home on East Melbourne Road in 1964, which he and his wife, Melissa, later purchased and now live in with their young children, 9-year-old Maggie and 2-year-old Henry.
“I’ve spent my whole life in District 6,” he said, adding that between his volunteer work with the Boys & Girls Club and his work at his liquor store, he “lives and breathes District 6.”
Responding to commissioners’ questions, Wells said he has about seven employees and would be able to adjust his working hours to do the work of a commissioner, such as attending meetings. He said he would be running for election to the seat next year.
Donna Smith is The Oak Ridger’s news editor and covers Oak Ridge area news. Email [email protected]. Twitter: @ridgernewsed.
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