According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale held a press conference yesterday to propose a procedure and a timeline for appointing replacement Knox County officeholders. He wants it done by Feb. 16th.

According to the article, Commission Chairman Scoobie Moore says the decision on how and when to proceed is up to County Commission, not the County Mayor, and that Commission will "consider all intelligent suggestions."

Commissioner Lumpy Lambert chimed in (as usual) and said that "the mayor stepped outside his authority today."

I almost feel sorry for Mayor Ragsdale. He has to assert leadership in this bizarre situation, but his hands are tied by the Tennessee Constitution, the Tennessee Supreme Court, and the State Coordinator of Elections. And he has to deal with "Scoobie" and "Lumpy".

In related term limit drama, Michael Silence has opened up his blog at the Knoxville News Sentinel for other KNS reporters to post all the latest gossip, rumors, and scuttlebutt.