When is enough enough... it appears Mayor Ragsdale and his key staff believe they are above the law...

Yet again Mike Arms is center of the problem... when will the recall begin???

I think mutually assured destruction is apt. The one positive thing I have seen from this mess in county government, is that folks are resisting the subtle(and some not so subtle) attempts to make this a commission vs mayor issue. I'm not about to excuse commission for cronyism and ethical lapses just because the mayor's staff is also rife with cronyism and ethical lapses.

These disputes have nothing to do with the Knox County Republican Party. Some battles are between Republicans, but it's certainly not over control of the Republican Party. As Bean points out, battles between various officeholders have been going on for decades. Yet, Republicans at all levels continue to win in Knox County.

Democrats could make gains in local seats in the next couple of years, but it will because of problems not political party. It will still be an uphill battle for Democrats. There are more Republicans than Democrats in Knox County. Could some be swayed to vote for a Democrat? Maybe. This is particularly so in local races where the person means as much or more than the party. Case in point, Democrat Mark Cawood won repeatedly in Karns which has a history of strong support for Republican candidates.

Back to the point of the post. You will note from Sandra's column story that 4 subpoenas were issued to various county offices. Somehow 3 offices knew to send those subpoenas to the Law Director. Not so with the Mayor's office.

I'm going back to a point I've been making.The turn-out for next years county Republican primary is going to set a record that may never be topped.In past Republican county primarys turn-out is around 25,000.The presidential primary should draw around 50,000 maybe 60,000.

I'm wondering if the turnout will overwhelm the factions.What Susan Williams calls a "pox on all your houses."You know,I'm your good government candidate.I'm going to put an end to all this foolishness.I'm not with the ex sheriff,the Mayor or anybody else.I'm with you &"I'm mad as hell & I'm not going to take it anymore."

The Mayor's office was just wrong on giving this information out.

."You know, I'm your good government candidate. I'm going to put an end to all this foolishness. I'm not with the ex sheriff, the Mayor or anybody else. I'm with you &"I'm mad as hell & I'm not going to take it anymore."

The problem is, that candidate has to come up with $30k to $40k to get that message out. And then, if elected, he/she is tasked with ridding the county government with the stench that has fallen over it as a result of these latest developments.

Good luck with that...

Dennis Francis nailed it this weekend on WBIR... This whole thing with Knox County Government is like death by a thousand cuts.

The question is who has the ability to bury the carcasses of governments past?

Betty you're saying,Bolus will not be opposed,for the nomination?

It's a pretty good bet that any candidate that is funked up with the black wednesday blues is in deep trouble.Bolus is one of those candidates.

I think there is a good chance some candidates will not emerge till Thanksgiving.

update:Bruce White is opposing Bolus in the primary.
on Election Commission web site.

After watching today's commission meeting, it is a brave soul that the wade into those waters... What a show!

Where is a reliable place for me to find a Shopper? It used to be at the N.Knox Food Cities and the Broadway BP like clock work, then the last few weeks there has been no sign of it. This has happened before. I need my Mon. Scripps alternative news fix to get me through to my Thurs. Scripps alternative news fix.

Best place to find the Shopper is inside the Monday edition of the Knoxville News Sentinel or on line.

I don't get delivery nor do I live in Halls, I read the online some, but I like paper in my hands. I hope they haven't stopped the Food City delivery.

Folks: I'll check on this. We've not changed anything but may need to increase the count at the North Knox Food City store. -- s.

Time for Mike and Mike to say "goodbuy" to Knox County gooberment...but Mike won't fire Mike and neither Mike will resign. Sooooo, what is the process of recalling Mike so that Mike can be replaced by some other boob?

I note the absence of any comment from Mike Arms friend Brian Hornback. Mr. Hornback, was it right for Mike Arms to release the personal financial information of former Sheriff Tim Hutchison to lawyer Herb Moncier? You may be closer to the situation and able to give us some insight.

p.s. I am somewhat familiar with laws concerning financial privacy and the proper response to subpoenas.

Does anyone have or can post a link to the p-card monthly statement that started this fun little exercise in abuse of public spending?

Also, I read something recently about all 300 or so county P-cards were going to be looked over, from the mayor's office and county commission down to the KCSD. Who perform the audit? When is it going down?

IIRC, Walls is the county auditor not the commission auditor.

Its my understanding the county commissioners don't carry cards unless its through their employment in county government. So, when that department is audited, those cards would be audited, I presume. If a commissioner can't spend or individually authorize expenditures, that won't leave much to audit.

In the commission meeting yesterday, Walls indicated that the order of work and delivery to the state comptroller was (1) travel pay (2) p card purchases, and (3) the Knox hospitality account. Travel pay had been sent and p card audit of departments was underway. At least that's the way I heard it.

I think he'll do a thorough job. Besides, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a reporter or privately hired auditor so he won't have much choice...

Let's not forget this post started with Mike Arms release of personal info of an employee which I believe might violate federal HIPPA laws and others...

I went to the meeting when the budget passed.
Everybody was smiling & the debate was calm.
Watched this one on TV & it was anything but.

It looks like commissioners have lost faith in the Mayors office.Questioning everything.Mayor Ragsdale is not helping matters by blowing up.

The ethics committe debate got down right ugly.
Pointing fingers,talkin smack.

Some of these cats need to do a little more thinkin & a less talkin.No law says you got to turn your light on.

Thanks for setting the record straight

Tamara, excellent post re: public records. Seems to me the question will be if the release of the confidential information is legal given it was in response to a subpoena. I believe there must be a redaction of such information prior to making such records available for public inspection. I don't know if the same is true if the documents are provided in response to a subpoena.

If you get by the subpoena question, it could get interesting. Moreover, if it can be proven it was done intentionally, i.e. with malice, that could be an interesting lawsuit and would keep the Mayor's problems in the paper for years to come.

Nice work on the part of the Mayor's chief of staff. If you're sinking, kick another hole in the boat.

CBT

I haven't done any research. Maybe Sheriff's lawyer Robert Watson has, at least over the past couple of days...hehe. Just a guess, but I would think the confidential information must be redacted from documents produced in response to a regular ole subpoena.

I'm sure Law Director Owings is very familiar with this process because he has to deal with subpoenas for public records all the time. If there's an exception, my guess is Owings would have said so right away. Another reason to think the release was illegal.

Still no comment from Arms confidant Brian Hornback. Interesting.

The West Wing of the 6th floor is in melt down.
Whats going on?

Bless Herb's heart but how on earth does the Mayor's office react to one of his subpoenas in this manner?

After all thats gone they think Hutch is their problem? Maybe in courthouse fantasy politics but not in the real world.

In the real world working folks are outraged.
They think the Mayor's staff is stealing & all we see,on the 6 oclock news,is the Mayor gettin mad.Get a grip on this thing.

Let me tell ya,Nobodys buying..the spin if its on them it aint on me.Just yesterday the commission was hollerin & pointin fingers.

Im sick of the whole damn mess.

By God,the state constitution says "all power is inherent in the people"

If we aint happy we can abolish the government.
We aint happy.

What happened to the purposed Skateboard Park in Fountain City?
The property was donated by the Hensleys and the Mayor had a
ceremony dedicating the site several years ago.
The children will be hurt skateboarding on or near Broadway. There will be a serious accident.
My building sits directly on Broadway across from the construction
of the new Pinnacle Bank, and my view of the traffic congestion is level with the street. I cringe when I see the children in
harm's way with no other place to play. The young people need
this park.