Tue
Aug 21 2007
02:37:pm
Here's an idea: Let's have an election
By: Mark Siegel  shortURL

Who thinks the results of a Knox County re-do will be a lot more satisfying than the last do?

Me, neither.

My recommendation to the Knox County Law Department, the Knox County Commission, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Chancellor Fansler, and anyone who cares is:

Let's have an election.

I'll bet Mark Harmon even has the resolution on his word processor.

As was established last time, we cannot have a binding special election, because there is no provision for one under Tennessee law.

Nothing, however, prevents County Commission from directing the Knox County Election Commission to have a non-binding election for the offices which were occupied by a term-limited incumbent, and then have its re-do following the election. Let's see which Commissioners vote for anyone other than the winner of the non-binding election.

It's the only way I see, as Commissioner Hammond said, "to restore some integrity as far as the public is concerned."

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Tamara Shepherd's picture

!

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Tue, 2007/08/21 - 2:49pm.

What an excellent idea, Mark! If a resolution were adopted soon enough, could this non-binding election "piggyback" with upcoming city elections to trim costs?

Joe Taylor's picture

Grasping at straws

Submitted by Joe Taylor on Tue, 2007/08/21 - 3:08pm.

You guy are grasping at straws... give it a rest...

The only thing that will satisfy everyone is a binding legal election in which the citizens spoke by casting their vote at the ballot box... and this is going to happen in February...

Nothing short of the citizens voting is going to satisfy everyone (then the results will probably be contested by someone)

Let's focus our efforts on the ballot box in February and quit grasping at straws...

rikki's picture

The February election is

Submitted by rikki on Tue, 2007/08/21 - 3:13pm.

The February election is only a primary. No new county office holders will be elected until next August, to be sworn in on Sept. 1, 2008.

Doesn't the commission have the power under home rule to amend the charter? They could create the missing provision allowing for a binding special election.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Gemerally speaking, the

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Tue, 2007/08/21 - 4:35pm.

Gemerally speaking, the commission has the power to amend the charter (as do we citizens, by petition), but I thought all election law originated with the state constitution and its election code?

I'm looking at Article VIII, Section II in the constitution, if you've gotta TN Blue Book lying around...

Johnny Ringo's picture

Doesn't the commission have

Submitted by Johnny Ringo on Thu, 2007/08/23 - 5:31am.

Doesn't the commission have the power under home rule to amend the charter? They could create the missing provision allowing for a binding special election.

Yes, County Commission can propose changes to the Charter, but they don't become effective until ratified by the citizens in an election. By the time you could make THAT happen, we'll be in the 2008 electoral cycle anyway, so while such a change might be useful for future situations, it's not a viable prospect for solving the current problem.

Mark Siegel's picture

You guy are grasping at

Submitted by Mark Siegel on Thu, 2007/08/23 - 8:38am.

You guy are grasping at straws... give it a rest...

The only thing that will satisfy everyone is a binding legal election in which the citizens spoke by casting their vote at the ballot box... and this is going to happen in February...

Nothing short of the citizens voting is going to satisfy everyone (then the results will probably be contested by someone)

Actually, there's a big problem here that needs to be solved.

The News-Sentinel and Moncier have the Sunshine Act goods. However, all they can get is a "do over", which probably satisfies no one.

At least some of the commissioners are apparently tired of being used as a punching bag, and realize that a trial is only going to make it worse.

The only way to resolve this fairly and openly, with results no one can really complain about is with an election.

What is the big significance of whether it is technically legally binding, if the results are going to be accepted?

Simply Ridiculous's picture

NEED AN ELECTION

Submitted by Simply Ridiculous on Thu, 2007/08/23 - 8:44am.

The only way to resolve this fairly and openly, with results no one can really complain about is with an election.

Agreed. How could we possibly trust the intentions of those who have no integrity? (with the exception of a few who, unfortunately, are wrongly included due to the old adage 'one bad apple...')

FactFinder's picture

What Do You Think This is a Democracy???

Submitted by FactFinder on Wed, 2007/08/22 - 6:31pm.

Special elections in Knox County??? What are you people smoking? That's not the way it's done under the new world order in Knox!

Scoobie, Lumpy and Bulldawg Tramel would have to consult their master Dictator Hutch and ask him what he thinks...and he'll say he's happy with the makeup of the commission exactly as it is.

Then they'll go back to commission and relay the "no go election" message (sunshine law be danged) to their stooges - Paul Pinkie, Ivan Hardball, Chuck Bogus, "Stationery" Cawood, Dick Cate, Craig "Loot"hold, Frank "Loop"hold and "Junkie" Jordan and argue that an election would be too expensive, unnecessary and the need for sore losers to move on.

The few good guys: Mike Hammond, Tony Norman and Mark Harmon will throw up their hands in total frustration while the indecisive middle guys Ballard, Greene, Huddleston, "Tank" & Smith will agree with both sides so they can be on the winning side no matter what.

Sad isn't it? :-)

kevlar's picture

The sad reality is....

Submitted by kevlar on Fri, 2007/08/31 - 1:39pm.

It ultimately doesn't matter. Everyone who gets into politics becomes corrupted after a time. Show me one politician who is actually interested in serving the people and i will call you a liar. They ALL look out for themselves.

He must increase but I must decrease.
John 3:30

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