Mon
Jan 29 2007
02:08:pm
It's a family affair, it's a family affair...
By: Number9  shortURL

As Wednesday approaches people wonder about the “famility” of the appoint process. The newest hearsay is that Craig Leuthold's father Frank Leuthold will be nominated to replace John Griess in District 5.

Queue “Sly and the Family Stone”, will Wednesday be a "Family Affair"?

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Bbeanster's picture

This is hard for me. Frank

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 2:27pm.

This is hard for me.

Frank Leuthod was one of my favorite elected officials. He was smart, honest, hard-working and kept his promises. He was very pro-neighborhood and stood up against rape-and-pillage development. He was the acknowledged budget expert on the commission and was the keeper of much of the institutional wisdom on that body.

I also like Sharon Cawood very much. She is smart, honest and hard-working. last spring after the bailey decision came down, she and her husband, Mark, made no secret of the fact that she wanted to run for that seat if he were term-limited. As a matter of fact, Mark attempted to have his name removed from the ballot, and was told that it was too late. Sharon accompanied him to campaign events, and they even had bumper stickers made that just said Cawood. I wrote about it in my column, and there was absolutely no subterfuge about it.

In theory, I don't like nepotism, and the notion of relatives being appointed to these seats is distasteful -- but in practice, it's going to happen. So do I stay philosophically consistent and rail against this kind of thing, or do I just shut up and watch?

In reality, it doesn't much matter. Sharon will probably be appointed, Frank probably won't (and I don't even know that he really wants to be). Latest information is that Greg Harrison, law partner of John Valliant, is jockeying into position for the Griess seat, which Democrat Tom Salter is also vying for. Smart money is on Valliant's guy at this point, since Valliant is who is quarterbacking the pro-development slate that seems to have the inside track.

rikki's picture

hobgoblins

Submitted by rikki on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 3:44pm.

do I stay philosophically consistent and rail against this kind of thing

Like you railed against Missy Mayfield being appointed?

Bbeanster's picture

The Mayfield situation was

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 4:25pm.

The Mayfield situation was in no way comparable to this one, except for the neverending struggle by the PTB to stay the PTB.
Danny Mayfield was elected by a loose coalition of folks -- many of them younger than your average voter -- who really, really wanted to see the city take a new direction. There was a spirit about his campaign, a coming-together of disparate groups, that I've not seen around here before or since.
And it's fair to say that Danny's constituency did not want the same-ole, same-ole, and when Danny was taken away, there was a huge groundswell of support for Missy to step in. She'd been doing his constituent work during his illness anyway, and was more than up to speed on the issues. She'd been wheeling him into meetings in a wheelchair, sitting next to him, or watching and listening in the audience for a long, long time.
There was a genuine groundswell of support for Missy to be appointed to Danny's unexpired seat, and anybody who attended the City Council meeting when Raleigh Wynn was appointed instead saw it and heard it and felt it. it was the right thing to do.
Melissa was brilliant, compassionate and drop-dead beautiful. She was a superstar in the making, had she been given the opportunity to serve.
But she wasn't, and driving Missy and her children from Knoxville was one of the tragic mistakes of the Ashe administration -- maybe THE most terrible thing that happened. We'll never know what could have been.
So, nah, it's a good try, Rikki, but I'm not sorry for one single thing I did in support of Melissa Mayfield. And I've already admitted that I'm conflicted about some of these appointments.

rikki's picture

Which just goes to show that

Submitted by rikki on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 6:53pm.

Which just goes to show that maybe you should stay consistent by railing FOR familial replacements. I'm not sure that's really nepotism, anyway. Nepotism is more like the sheriff's wife running the jail commissary or the City Council attorney's wife arranging an unusual election to allow an annexation.

Bbeanster's picture

Did either of those things

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 7:56pm.

Did either of those things actually happen?

rikki's picture

The jail commissary thing

Submitted by rikki on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 8:14pm.

The jail commissary thing may be apocryphal, but the South Grove annexation definitely happened.

bill young's picture

Pam is Honest

Submitted by bill young on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 8:41pm.

I have to much respect for Pam Reaves to allow anyone to infer that her & her husband would do anything but the right thing...with respect to the south grove election.You may not agree on what was done BUT please,do not make accusations that are not true.

rikki's picture

What have I said that is not

Submitted by rikki on Tue, 2007/01/30 - 1:18pm.

What have I said that is not true with regard to the South Grove election?

Bbeanster's picture

The election commission is

Submitted by Bbeanster on Tue, 2007/01/30 - 1:54pm.

The election commission is severely restricted by law, and -- unless I am badly mistaken -- acted per the direction of their attorney and of state elections coordinator Brook Thompson in scheduling that election. The fault, if there is fault, lies with whatever deal was cut between the city and count administrations to make the "referendum" possible, and accusing Pam Reeves some kind of sneaky action to benefit the city is just wrong.

There is a whole lot of case law -- much of it made right here in Knox County -- re what election commissions can and cannot do. I've seen no proof that the election commission violated it

Pam Reeves is one of the most respected lawyers in Tennessee and is exactly the kind of person we should want to take a thankless position like this. She is one of the best appointments I've ever seen on this board, and I, for one, am grateful that she is serving. It's not like she has nothing else to do with her time.

rikki's picture

Any election with one

Submitted by rikki on Tue, 2007/01/30 - 2:58pm.

Any election with one eligible voter is inherently suspicious, particularly when that one voter happens to be employed by the owner of the annexed property and claims a construction trailer at his place of employment as his place of residence.

I understand that the election commission is severely restricted, and I have little doubt that the bad actors in this case are on the developer's team. County commission also gets a big chunk of blame for blocking their own law director's challenge of the referendum.

Still, there are two main pieces of controlling law: the language enabling the referendum and laws concerning eligibility to register to vote. The "deal" between the city and county you allude to is something I'd like to see. It wouldn't be terribly surprising if that agreement is riddled with loopholes for developers, but I want to see them. Have you read the language that defines these annexation referendums? Are you comfortable with Garrett Meek's voter registration? Is the law really so stilted in favor of developers that they can pull something like this off on their own (the 11 commissioners who signed a letter asking Owings to withdraw his challenge but were unwilling to formally vote notwithstanding)?

Number9's picture

I know what you mean...

Submitted by Number9 on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 2:44pm.

Under any other circumstance I would be thrilled to see Frank Leuthold return to County Commission. However, this is not that circumstance. If Frank would pledge only to be an interim replacement I would feel differently.

The Commission does need the spirit of Frank Leuthold though. If there was ever a model for a Commissioner Frank would be at the top of the list.

The balance between developers and neighborhoods is badly out of whack. Will that balance be corrected in the 2008 County Commission election?

Considering the relationship that John Valliant has with County Commission I question the wisdom of an appointment for Greg Harrison, who is a law partner of John Valliant. Isn't that pushing the envelope?

Bbeanster's picture

My understanding is that

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 2:49pm.

My understanding is that Frank would be a "caretaker" serving for one year only.

Number9's picture

In that case there is no contest.

Submitted by Number9 on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 3:16pm.

My understanding is that Frank would be a "caretaker" serving for one year only.

If the realistic choice is Frank Leuthold or Greg Harrison I would choose Frank. But I don't have a vote.

When I did have a vote I voted for Tom Salter. Who stands little to no chance and is also a neighborhood champion.

We would not be in this mess if the term limited Commissioners had done the right thing to begin with. No matter what happens most people will be upset. The question is what will they do next time.

Simply Ridiculous's picture

New Family Tree

Submitted by Simply Ridiculous on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 5:35pm.

Chairman Scott Moore's New Family Tree

-JJ Jones; new Sheriff where Moore's wife, father and nephew are employed
-Lee Trammel; Sheriff employee, personal friend of Sheriff, Moore
-Randy Hinton; his business holds a county contract, personal friend of Sheriff, Moore, Trammel, etc.
-Harrison; though a distant relative, he is partner with John Valliant who is personal friend of Sheriff, Scott Moore, Trammel, Hinton, etc.

Wow! That's already 4 of the needed 10 votes for the Chairman. Plus, the family jobs (Sheriff's Dept) are safe!

StaceyDs Cat's picture

May all be true, but will

Submitted by StaceyDs Cat on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 5:39pm.

May all be true, but will Mike Arms' son keep his job with the county as well?

James D.'s picture

What does Arms' son do?

Submitted by James D. on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 6:00pm.

What does Arms' son do? Isn't he an intern or something?

I'd hardly compare him to a County Commissioner...

Simply Ridiculous's picture

I doubt it - he's just an

Submitted by Simply Ridiculous on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 8:19pm.

I doubt it - he's just an intern. Working on a law degree.

jbr's picture

Family tree...

Submitted by jbr on Tue, 2007/01/30 - 4:36pm.

Regardless of the persons character I dont think family members of commissioners being replaced is a kosher appointment. If there was an actual public vote and they got elected, well ok. Everyone has to play by the same rules and that shoud negate the possibility of wife,son,father, etc appointments in this instance. If they are a good candidate let them run in 2008.

Does anyone recall the News-Sentinel and I think Metro Pulse series of articles on the the wrecker industry in Knoxville? I never knew of Randy Hinton before, but anyone that has lived in Knoxville the last 20 years has either first hand, or knows of someone who has experienced the practices of the local towing industry. That looks like something to avoid.

The South Grove voting debacle is something I would expect in a third world country. It deserves national news attention. What a stinker.

Simply Ridiculous's picture

all in the family will go on

Submitted by Simply Ridiculous on Thu, 2007/02/01 - 7:40pm.

all in the family will go on and on and on

jbr's picture

Has an effort ever been made

Submitted by jbr on Fri, 2007/02/09 - 6:56pm.

Has an effort ever been made to chart the relationships of people in government? Anyone familiar with GeneWeb application? I assume it could be expanded to include ties to entities voted on by governmental groups.

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