I don't think Daugherty discussed it...I think he flat out called for it. Don't forget he was the first one to call for Shumaker's resignation.

If he resigns, would there be a special election, or would the county commission be allowed to appoint someone to be the mayor?

The deck will certainly shuffle if that is the case. There will be a mad scramble of musical chairs with the jobs at the City/County Bldg, again.

I can see it now in my crystal ball.

The new mayor is -- ex-Shurf Tim.

First, I doubt that Ragsdale will resign. He still doesn't really understand what the fuss is about. His next line of defense will be victimhood -- those evil commissioners are out to get him. After he's forced to let go of Finch and Arms, he will try to clear the deck with a "they did it, they're gone, let's move on" theme.

If Ragsdale is forced from office -- I'm reporting in tomorrow's Shopper that he charged his colonoscopy on his P-Card; what does it take? -- there's a procedure in state law and the county charter for his replacement. The Commission chair would act as interim executive (here comes Scoobie), then the Commission would appoint someone to serve until the next election.

Frankly, this may be the only way to truly "move on." -- s.

I'll be darned.

Seams like last year I did hear alot about...next regularly scheduled election..which would be august '08..but again I dont know.

Best way to answer that question..Give the state election commission a call...they helped me alot last year.

Was this colonoscopy performed by a trained medical professional?

Was this colonoscopy performed by a trained medical professional?

Somebody I was telling the story to suggested it was performed by Paul Pinkston. -- s.

now find myself firmly ensconced in the "throw all the bums out" camp. We need a clean slate from top to bottom in both the County Mayor's office and the County Commission.

_________________________________________________
"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"
"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali

You will note that Cagle mentioned the need for Ragsdale to 'clean house', including BFF Mike Arms 'who has his fingerprints on virtually every problem coming out of the Mayor's office'. Gee, I wonder how many people have told the Mayor that over the past few years.

Ragsdale won't resign. To do so would admit that his administration is a complete failure and that he has no future. I don't know if he will completely clean house, but if he doesn't he will be viewed as just putting band-aids on the problem. Ragsdale still intends to run for higher office, i.e. governor. This has been the plan for a long time, a career politician. But, with his 'base' in complete disarray and the inability to independently finance a campaign, I can't imaging donors will be lining up to support Ragsdale in a primary. He made this bed. I imagine it's pretty uncomfortable right now.

Lloyd Daugherty made a good point. Lots of people complain about the so-called contentious relationship between Commission and the Mayor's office. But, this battle has exposed problems with Commission and in the Mayor's office. It's also apparently going to result in some needed changes. Though a bit ugly at times, this is the way government is supposed to work. No one branch has total control.

You don't think there's a battle between Congress and the Executive Branch? Sure looks like it to me. And, no one is always wearing the white hat or even the black one.

But, let'e please not let this thread divert to national politics.

I'm reporting in tomorrow's Shopper that he (Ragsdale) charged his colonoscopy on his P-Card.

Why not? I've always thought that he has his head so far up his you-know-what that he could french-kiss himself. :)

After watching WBIR and WATE talk shows this morning can it only be matter of time for Mike Arms is fired... it appeared to me pretty much everyone on both shows called for the firing of Mike Arms and several said Mike Ragsdale should resign too...

At some point, someone needs to explain to Mike and Mike that Knox County/Knoxville was here before them and will still be after them and for the good of the community and they need to resign...

It is time our county gets back to work and it appears as long as those two are still in office we will not be able to move the county forward with improving schools, road, etc.

Because we will be waiting on the next scandal to begin as long as they remain in office… to many scandals to list here… (but it would be nice for someone else to list them all on another post)

Mike Ragsdale thought he was a king maker messing in everyone political race, and by the way loosing all of them, sticking his paws into here one else’s business...

Just caused they changed the title of the office did not mean they changed the job description... it is time bring back the correct name of the office "county executive"

I don't see how all this adds up to Ragsdale needing to resign. It has already cost a few people who are directly responsible for some of the misspent money their jobs, and the p-card problems are more tangential to basic business of the mayor than the Black Wednesday matters are to the business of the commission.

Right now County Commission is stacked with a bunch of jokers who have no business representing county voters. The last thing the county needs is to grant that body more power than it normally has by letting it appoint a new mayor. Scott Moore's leadership of the commission is far more scandalous, and Ragsdale has been a voice of reason amid commission's embarrassing behavior. Moore should resign along with several of the most dubious and occluded commission appointees. Ragsdale just needs to fix the problems that have come to light and move on, which he is already doing.

>would the folks who make that argument make the same one for >the Sheriff's drug $$?

Won't really matter, once this mess results in the consolidation of Knox County's political power in one player's hand.

You can see the Lloyd Daugherty/Frank Cagle segment on WATE's website: http://www.tennesseethisweek.com/archives/85

Yes, Lloyd does call for Ragsdale's resignation. There have been times in the past that Lloyd called for the resignation of the state GOP chairmen and soon afterward they were gone. Lightning may strike a third time.

Now really Toby, what do you know about how the the Knox Co. GOP works? I mean first hand, working in campaigns, going to the dozen different Republican clubs which meet each month in Knox Co., getting to know Republican officerholders and candidates?

Your view of so-called cannibalism is now from New Jersey, but I suspect it wasn't much better when you lived here. Yes, Republicans disagree on a number of things. But, we do pretty well come election time in Knox Co. And, before you compare it to the state or national parties, save it. Those are different games.

I hope Ragsdale doesn't resign. Our Founding fathers were on to something with the separation of powers. We need to have government officials keeping an eye on each other.

____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

Though a bit ugly at times, this is the way government is supposed to work. No one branch has total control.

So, if Ragsdale resigns, Scobbie steps in as interim until he appoints Hutchi...um, I mean, someone? I sure hope that isn't how government ends up 'working' here.

Sorry folks, but I believe federal law regulates funds seized from the drug trade. Law enforcement must receives the funds and must use it for drug enforcement.

I was thinking that Hutchison's accounting method WRT drug money was one of the 18 of 19 points Moody won in her successful suit against him? Anybody recall more clearly than I?

I don't recall Herb or Wanda winning anything against Hutchison. -- s

The drug funds and seized properties are sometimes abused by law enforcement across the country. Some seized property includes; beach houses, cabins on the ski slops, private jets, large sail boats, expensive cars, and more.
How they spend the funds is guarded, because it may expose an undercover operation. Most all agencies are very creative in their drug interdiction operations, so a trip to the beach in a private jet can use drug interdiction funds. Since none of the funding came from the tax payer, no one really cares.
Also, Wanda never won the lawsuit about controlling the drug funds. Furthermore, a real audit completed by a CPA would never tell you how to control you funds. A good audit would disclose what funds were spent within regulations and what funds did not met standard operating guidelines.
Its a bad law that allows dishonest people to travel in private jets, stay in beach homes, cabins, use sail and ski boats, and more.

Hospitality funds were donated by companies that do business with Knox County. It seems a good donation ensures a contract funded by taxpayers. Drug funds were seized from accused dealers who sometimes go to jail.

Please don't misunderstand me, I think the hospitality fund is a great idea, it just needs some fine tuning. As far as the drug funding, it needs a major change, the abuse is out of control and no one cares. The sheriff never broke any laws. The problem is the current codes give law enforcement to much control over the drug funds, with little accountability. Look at some of the other counties across the country and you will see that Knox County is doing business about the same as everyone. Does that make it right? No!

Hospitality funds were donated by companies that do business with Knox County. ... Drug funds were seized from accused dealers who sometimes go to jail.

And the difference is ... ?

--Socialist With A Gold Card

Federal drug money has to be used for non-reoccuring expenses. Like guns and not bullets, like cars but not gas.

Every penny into any county has to be accounted for. Chances are good that Knox county as a very specific line number for drug fund money.

The hot topic is just what the money is used for. In the case of Blount County, they built a race track. Money many people say could have gone to other more needed items.

I am not saying I like this, only that I made myself understand this because of local issues. I would love to see this law changed but that would take an act of special interests, I mean congress.

one experience back in 1996

You should get to know more local Republicans. Some you might like.

Long ago, local Democrats packed the ballots boxes with fake ballots (I've heard tales of sitting and rubbing new dollar bills on stacks of ballots to make them look 'genuine'). Both political parties have played games with ballots and minorities.

Aside from voters who strongly identify with a particular party and 'party' volunteers, local politics has very little to do with political parties. Was there a more conservative Commissioner than Democrat Mark Cawood? Just one example that state and national labels can deceive voters on a local level.

It does make a difference in state and national races as to turning out local votes for candidates (see comment on identification and grass roots workers). I'm sure there were quite a few Lincon Davis and John Tanner voters who voted for Corker (or maybe that should be against Ford Junior). Party affiliation means much more in Nashville and Washington, as it's built in to the system of government.

Watch an interview of Mayor Mike Ragsdale (http://www.tennesseethisweek.com/archives/88#comments)
• Take a drink whenever he says “Going forward”
• Switch chairs whenever he says “Moving forward”
• Do the Wave whenever he says “doing some really good things”
• Stand-up and spin around whenever he says “partnership” or “partner”
• Kick-up your feet whenever he says “every school a great school”

Trust me--Scoobie, Tramel, JJ and many more fear any close scrutiny of the drug fund. I'm no defender of Ragsdale and company, but there are other parts of local government, that under the scrutiny of anyone not afraid to go there, stink much worse. Sad but true.

sp

Was there a more conservative Commissioner than Democrat Mark Cawood?

Yes. Commissioner Joe McMillan and after his passing Commissioner Mike McMillan. BTW, Big Joe was and Mike is Conservative and Republican.

Have we grown tired of Ragsdale and his staff's misdeeds???

I say no one (including myself) posted on his appearance on Gene Patterson show Sunday... what a joke "it is not my style to punish employees who do wrong” then who the heck job is it???

It has been extremely quiet the past few days has Ragsdale weathered the storm?

Where is the outrage... is it over???

Has he survived the News Sentinel onslaught???

Ragsdale is history. Gene Patterson's interview Sunday did nothing to rehabilitate Knox County's CEO; rather it showcased his pettiness and defensiveness.

Courthouse rumor is that the KNS reporters are getting so many tips about new places to investigate that Hartmann is outsourcing them to India.

This is our of Knoxnews

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/aug/14/ethics-committee-wants-da-inves...