If the eleven vote in Cate in the 4th, then Scoobie's team have the majority to vote in Tramel. The rest will be history repeating itself.

How can we prevent this from happening? Make sure the swing votes will not allow it. Would that be Tony Norman, Larry Smith, Mike Hammond, Mark Harmon. How will Tank Strickland vote? Craig Leuthold?

Don Daugherty

The problem I see with the order is the only one I really feared from the outset. DF wrote a thorough opinion, but now the 4th District has been effectively disenfranchised with respect to selecting its own Commissioner in Seat A. 11 Commissioners can vote on Seat A's replacement, but the 4th District, by virtue of not having a sitting commissioner, and unlike any other district, is completely shut out from participating in its own representation (at least Seat A). Sure, residents will be heard, but they won't have a vote. It may be that some 4th District resident might waltz into U.S. District Court and seek an injunction staying the order pending the August elections on federal Constitutional grounds.

I think understanding the criteria Fansler refers to in the Neese case is vital to whether a re-do will happen.

Betty - that is too good for a bumper sticker; somebody call Lamar.

How about holding a county commission meeting in a location in each vacant district, and allow the citizens to appoint there new commissioner. When all the new commissioners are in office, let the new commissioners appoint the vacated office holders. I realize this won't work, since it requires too much respect for the citizens this early in the changeover. I sometimes enjoy dreaming in a make believe world.

Do that to me one more time!

(Thanks, the Captain and Tennille, wherever you are.)

Larry Van Guilder

I agree with D Mac.
These guys do damage every single day they are in office.

But let's be honest here: except to hardcore partisans, party really doesn't matter much on county commission.

Republican Richard Cate is not really a "sheriff" guy nor a "mayor" guy. And he is far more than just a guy with a fondness for developers and a checkered past. He made his living as a lobbyist for developers. He "ran" Kim Litton's City Council campaign against Rob Frost, whom developers hate like rat poison. She was a bad candidate with a crappy campaign, but that's not for lack of money being thrown at her. Cate quit his job with the homebuilders just before he got this appointment, but anybody who thinks he's not still carrying their water just isn't paying attention.

Tramel is also very, very developer-"friendly," and I've learned by bitter personal experience that he'll make promises he has no intention of keeping in service of deep-pocketed developers (Lisa S. will know exactly what I'm talking about here). I'm not saying he takes illegal bribes, but as someone who rose through the ranks of the KCSO as Tim Hutchison's major fundraiser (he's not a real cop), he has a deep appreciation and understanding of what it takes to build a war chest.

They are both Republicans, but nobody should make the mistake of thinking Democrats are necessarily any better. If Sharon Cawood has met a developer she doesn't like, I have yet to see it. Democrat Mark Harmon is a strong, consistent friend of the environment and of neighbohood integrity, but so is Republican Tony Norman, whose sincerity and honesty just amazes me, especially since Hutchison's guys campaigned hard for him in the GOP primary.

Finally, Democrats must bear their share of the shame. Chucky Bolus could not have been elected without Democrats. Jonathan Wimmer, whom I also consider a hero in this whole sorry mess, didn't get one single Democrat's vote. That still outrages me.

I'm from the Fourth District, and here's what I want:

1. County Commission should instruct the Knox County Election Commission to hold an "election" as soon as reasonably possible to identify the popular choice for each vacancy. I would think we would need a couple of weeks for people to get on the ballot, and four to six weeks to run the "election".

2. The "election" should be held on a non-partisan basis. Whoever gets the most votes in each race is the "winner".

3. County Commission should schedule appointment of the replacements for the vacant seats at a meeting as soon after the "election" as possible. The meeting should comply with the Open Meetings Law in all respects.

That would make me happy.

I am very much against a Federal lawsuit to enjoin implementation of Chancellor Fansler's order. I can't see how it would benefit me in any way, and I really don't understand whose interests it would serve.

"They are both Republicans"

My memory may be failing me, but isn't Richard Cate Randy Nichols' campaign treasurer? Forgive me if my mind is in left field on this one.

As for a special election, it didn't happen back when and it ain't gonna happen now. Though it wasn't designed to do 12 at once, the law spells out how appointments are to be made. The news media would better serve the public by talking about the rationale for the ruling, the process for appointments and those persons interested in the jobs. By contonuing to talk about an unlikely special election, the public will be further confused and frustrated when the headline reads 'no special election'. Stop confusing the people who need to be involved in this process (leading up to an election next year). Educate, educate, educate.

Politics (not party politics) are already being played out. Don't kid yourself that with Fansler's ruling we will now have this pure process, void of any politics. Various Commissioners, interest groups, lobbyists and the 6th floor care deeply about who gets appointed, same as before. As I've pointed out on this blog before, Mayor Ragsdale has endured an enormous amount of negative press due first to serious problems in his office, but also due to County Commission (though the 14 to 2 subpoena vote wasn't based on any 'faction'). It is critical to the Mayor and his administration to get a few more friendly faces on Commission as he looks toward the next 2-3 years in office. That's likely one of many reasons Scooby and Mike Arms were having breakfast together a couple of times this past week.

Start counting to six, see who's likely to get appointed and then move on up the line. If they start with the 4th and swear 'em in as they go, that likely puts Seat A (formerly Cate) up first. So, if Cate gets the nod again, how do the 12 stack up to vote on the seat formerly held by Trammel? As I said, count to six and move on. Of course, this does depend on the process. Lots of folks will be gazing into their crystal ball trying to figure this one out.

Dec...Feb..have an election every day if ya want.

I'm just gunna keep talkin politics in the neighborhood.

If they aint signed up to vote..Im signin em up

Makin a list..callin it twice.

Cuz 'round cheer.hit dont matter whur da crib be.

I'll be seein 'em early vote time at the UC!!

A special election is defined in Tennessee law, and there is no provision for one to fill county vacancies. To have one would take an act of the legislature or an order of a judge willing to take matters into his or her own hands.

I am talking about is County Commission asking the Election Commission to have a vote, so the Commissioners can learn who the voters would prefer to have fill the vacancies.

A majority of County Commission has the power to require such a vote at any time, and need not ask for any one else's permission.

County Commission would still have to come back and vote to fill the vacancies, though I pity the fool who would vote for anyone other than the winner of the vote for a particular position.

Will this happen? Almost certainly not.

What will happen instead? More Keystone Cop politics.

Sandra's column begs the question...if not Jordan, Bolus and Tramel, then who? I'm sure names are circulating.

If Broyles gets the job in the Second, does she, as the common wisdom goes, get a name recognition leg-up? Piper says she won't seek the appointment. Is there a care-taker available in the Second?

Will Scott Davis reappear for one of the 4th District seats? How about Guthe or Schmid's personal choice? Ed Shouse might find his way into the mix. Then there's Kuhlman, Bogaty and others who ran as write-ins. Lots of choices for one/two seats.

I personally like Tom Spangler (nothing against JJ, I just know Tom better). But, JJ is the probable choice and will make a good Sheriff. Witt will get the Register nod again, as will Sisk for Trustee (unless LB Steele hires John Valliant). County Clerk? I think cousin Billy still gets the job, if he maintains again he won't run next year. There's no actual relation with Billy, well, none that I know of.

Maybe this is a pipe dream, but it IS legal, solves the disenfranchisement issue, and gets us through the next general election:

force Commission to appoint those who came in second place in the 2006 general election into the seats until the 2008 general election. I can't come up with a better solution that stays within the law and halfway respects the will of the voters.

I suppose the only hope would be if Fansler reads this and elects to make it the imposed solution.

All good posts here... good analysis!

I think Knox County has been looking for this...

(link...)

(link...)

When I read CBT's post of 10/07/07, he seemed to ask whether Richard Cate is a Republican ("My memory may be failing me, but isn't Richard Cate Randy Nichols' campaign treasurer? Forgive me if my mind is in left field on this one"), I thought, "Of course Richard's a Republican; he's always told me he is." So I finally took time to check the Election Commission website and Richard identified himself as Republican when he picked up his petition for County Commission.
Now, I have no idea whether or not he was Randy's campaign treasurer. I know he and Randy are old, close friends. But what does whether or not he was Randy's treasurer have to do with anything?
Betty's point was, I believe, that party doesn't mean as much on County Commission.
And every now and then there are mixed-party friendships or even political liaisons.
I'm hoping we'll have some new commissioners whose qualifications are based more on integrity and acumen than on party or other affiliations.
Anne

...Mike Alford.