Already coached my wife on who to vote for!

Is that a 15.8% decrease compared to 2005?

A lot of us have gotten on here and debated one another, but I think, since obviously all of us are in tune with what's going on, I speak for almost everyone on here when I say that it's truly sad that only about 5%(fairly generous with that) of the electorate determines who is elected in these elections.

After thinking about it just a little, what is the real purpose of Knoxville's City government anyway that couldn't be handled by Knox County government offices? It seems like Knox County already has the big jobs, schools, libraries, parks, health department, marriage license, driver's license renewal, vehicle licensing, etc.

I think it is time for a change in Ktown. I am tired of the same group running the show in the town. I know Robert Marlino, and I am voting for him. He is a good person and I want to see some new ideas from this City Council. Robert is right; I do not think Knoxville has yet reached (or even understands) its potential. The sad thing is it seems like our neighbor to the South (Chattanooga) got it 20 years ago. I am taking the chance that a guy experienced in grassroots movements with good ideas will be a better hand than one of the old guard.

Story:
Knoxville City Council races wind down
Election Day turnout could reach 4,500

Snark:
Last Chance Not to Vote in City Elections
Citizens indifferent to representative government look forward to not voting Tuesday

From APB reports. KNOXVILLE - The largest turnover on Knoxville City Council in 8 years will be decided by the few rather than the many Tuesday - and that's exactly how citizens here like it, according to spokespersons for a group claiming to represent Knoxville's "silent, indifferent majority."

"Battlin'" Bill Brownlow-Barnstormer, of West Knoxville's Riversound area and President of Knoxvillians Not Interested in Government Heeding Their Suffrage or Working to Help Oversee Services Aimed for Your Neighborhood, Incorporated (KNIGHTSWHOSAYNI), says not voting for city council representatives is Knoxvillians' most fundamental right and duty.

"Not voting in city council elections is the absolute bedrock right of every Knoxvillian, and one of the things that makes Knoxville such a great community," explained Brownlow-Barnstormer. "Being apathetic to another election of so-called leaders who will shape policy affecting all aspects of our community doesn't mean we don't care about who runs Knoxville - we do. It's just that we trust a few power-brokers to run the city more than we trust ourselves to elect someone to do it."

Brownlow-Barnstormer's sentiment is one that KNIGHTSWHOSAYNI Secretary Hosmer Windibank-Mabry shares.

"I think it's wonderful that we have one last chance not to vote for city council," said Windibank-Mabry, of Island Home. "It's a rare city that offers you multiple opportunities to pass up the chance to exercise your suffrage - early voting, absentee voting, or voting on election day - comfortable in the sincere knowledge that you don't care who represents you on city council. Just letting the powers behind the scenes run things is a rare, rare privilege - and I, for one, enjoy exercising it. We are duty-bound not to vote."

KNIGHTSWHOSAYNI Treasurer Elizabeth "Lily" White-Burstingbustier says continuing the pleasure of exercising that privilege is the main reason they founded KNIGHTSWHOSAYNI...

here's a thought. We ought to survey each councilmember as they enter and exit office. tally up how much legislative policy each one introduced, got the votes for, and got passed. For the one's coming in, let's add up their promises and see how many they get done.

A lot of folks don't turnout for this because Council as a whole (no, I am not singling anyone out) has abdicated much of its policymaking to the Mayor's office. Council is indeed a legislative body.

seriously, couldn't someone like the League of Women Voters keep a tally on our councilmembers' legislative accomplishments?

I like Doug's idea, because it seems like some get elected to go along to get along, do a survey on what they've done and promises kept. I usually keep a few campaign mailings to kind of run my own tally. And metulj and others should start a bust the Farragut john site, sort of like "catch a predator!"