Amen!!!

They also endorsed Ed Shouse.
WHAT are they thinking?

What I found interesting about these endorsements was if the PAC didn't think that there was anyone with a true interest in improving local government, they didn't make an endorsement. That's significant to me, and makes them more reliable.

Maybe you know more about the criteria they used to decide who has a "true" interest than I do but I don't see how that makes this group's opinion so utterly reliable. How does one determine who has a "true" interest in improving government & who can say these wonderful folks won't be blinded by their egos within a year of taking office. These newsy endorsements don't give me a warm feeling - maybe I'm missing something.....

For this PAC to be relevant and receive additional funding later on this year, they have to hook their wagon to some winners and the only safe bet they've endorsed so far is FinnBaur Saunders, as he has no opposition in the Democratic primary. You'd think Karen Carson is a good bet, however, most skool bored members have pissed enough parents off after one term to get tossed into the weeds and political obscurity.

Public Trust PAC is nothing more than the high dollar host crowd that you would expect from any Haslam friendly candidate and the donor list for PT PAC is virtually identical to the Haslam for Mayor donor list, which is no indictment of Mayor Bill. PT PAC needs Haslam much more than Haslam needs crash political overtures from PT PAC. However, the critical break line on the candidate questionaire, viewing the endorsements, is obviously Metro Government, as they will not endorse a candidate who is aligned with Knox County proper, as the PT PAC is an instrumentality for consolidated government and a likeable face for the community, hoping to keep loose cannons and baffoons like Lumpy, Scooby, Pink, and Our Larry, from becoming the face of local government. It's not that the current crop of county commissioner's ideas or execution are any different that the people they're trying to get on commission, it's the ones that are there are rubes and hayseeds, convinced the world ends at Dixie Lee Junction or Helmas Restaurant and nobody in their right mid would ever live anywhere near SeeMore or the Anderson County line. They want candidates which wear bowties, use the right fork, dine regularly at a Regas Restaurant on their own nickle, used to shop and Hall Brown, but now visit the M.S. McClellan's semi annual sale from time to time, and while they don't need to be members of Cherokee Country Club, they better dam sure know where it is, how important it is, and how to get to a meeting there on time. The candidates endorsed are all metro leaning or metro friendly, which in a PT PAC world would consolidate all of the community's political power and structure in a few individuals who would not be the laughing stock and municipal embarrassment of the entire state and would be able to get things done transparently, not stooping to such things as cell phones, slush funds, bag men, golf outings at La Costa (nothing less than the Greenbrier, the Homestead, the Breakers, La Jolla, or the Broadmoore) or bathroom breaks at commission meetings.

Benny Atchley is much more knowledgable about issues which affect the entire state of Tennessee than Knoxville, Tennessee, as they are much easier to grasp in Nashville, particularly coming from a Knoxville perspective, where we don't have the economic engines and big businesses that drive communities revenue structure, the social fabric, the aesthetic opportunities, and employ and provide real benefits to a lot of people like exist in other parts of the state. Very few Knoxvillians ever make any type of lasting impact on state government and very few ever are elected to a statewide office (check with Randy Nichols or Victor Ashe), mainly because of the predisposition and errors in judgment and insticts which permeate the endorsements issued today.

Tamara- The words used in my meeting were specific to organization in place, campaign manager, etc. There was no question about civic involvement, and I'm not sure how that is a requirement for good governance anyway. I don't mean to question the value of volunteerism and involvement (I do a lot of volunteering, I just don't sit on any boards), but the belief that it is a touchstone for being a good commissioner is questionable. Being on a board of a philanthropy or a city parade doesn't provide any training on how to review a procurement to see if public money is wasted, or how to ascertain whether concrete/ plastic/ CMP pipe should be allowed, or how to evaluate a new medical plan or pension plan. I just don't see the connection, other than being on such committees/boards puts you in touch with the "right" people.

Please don't take that to mean I question the qualifications of anyone endorsed. I only mean to say I think the PTPAC relied on far to narrow a criteria, if they are truly dedicated to their stated mission. It makes other people distrustful of their true intentions (see Rags2010 post above!), and I'd like that not to be the case.

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Fighting for Reform and Representation, Fourth District
Steve Drevik, Commission Seat 4-B
(link...)

..but I thought I would look through my actual answers I submitted to the PTPAC and see if there were any wild-eyed firebomb statements. Lessee here, I said that I would/favored:

• - Putting reforms in place so that future commissioners wouldn't make backdoor deals that helped family/friends. Wooooo.
• - Examining procurements where the County paid twice what other counties paid for the same thing (not concluding it's bad, just saying such things need more examination). Practically communistic!
• - Commissioners should represent their constituents, but respect the rights of minority opinions when it's in the interest of the District/County. I guess Thomas Paine was a communist, too.
• - Not only be accessible to voters but be proactive in seeking out their views (reaching out to the apathetic or those who think you would never return their calls). Crazy, man.
• - I did call into question the wisdom of rushing into the Convention Center without more planning (the hotel issue). Yeah, that probably did me in.

I would also say that it's unlikely Walt Woljnar or Logan Brumitt came across as radicals either, and they are strong candidates to me as a voter concerned about reform. I just really have to disagree that a concern over 'endorsing a reactionary' could have come into play here.

I don't recall if they asked about metro government or not. I don't think they did. They did ask for references, but none of mine were ever contacted to my understanding, so either (1) something above ruffled them (Convention Center?), (2) lack of a political machine is an overweighted issue or (3) they couldn't care less about uncontested races and are more oriented around affected the results in the primaries.

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Fighting for Reform and Representation, Fourth District
Steve Drevik, Commission Seat 4-B
(link...)

Sorry, I originally started off just trying to offer some perspective to help others understand some underlying issues in the endorsements they did make in contested races. There are some good candidates in the GOP primary who I think would make good commissioners that are in the same shoes as I am (and could use the support, even if it's just an unfunded endorsement, which they said was an option). I'm sorry if I made too much of my comments about me. I just thought this focus in the interview on having a machine in place (for *any* candidate, not me) seemed to be a bit contradictory, that's all, and I wanted to bring that information to the readers here.

I'm off to take down the rest of the holiday decorations now... :)

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Fighting for Reform and Representation, Fourth District
Steve Drevik, Commission Seat 4-B
(link...)

Somewhat serious question:
Is paying taxes optional? So many of these public figures choose not to do it (I believe Richard Cate also owes back taxes) that I must conclude it is not compulsory -- unless I'm running for office, right?
But I'm not running, so why am I paying?
And I live in the empowerment zone. Who do I see to get a forgivable loan to get my house fixed up?
I am missing out on these bennies.

Hello Elaine

What are your views of the recent issues...

South Grove development and annexation?
Tim Graham's $5 million TIF for Halls Lowes development?
Victor Jernigan attempt to develop and the resulting conflict with South-Doyle homeowners group?
Midway Road business park and lawsuit?
Existence of The Development Corporation of Knox County?
Ridgetop protection in general and specifically the water tower?
Independent audits of county entities?

Gary, McKenzie's comment in the N-S was that he wasn't *looking* for any tax bill (and also that the tax office didn't have his correct address). His understanding of the contract with KCDC was that taxes weren't to be levied for some length of time. Dunno why he thought that, but that was the quote...

And let me explain that I don't mean to challenge anybody on the Mayfield fiasco--I simply don't remember the details well, if I ever knew them.

I was living outside the city by then, working a 50 hour per week job, attending classes two nights a week, and tending a newborn infant when that was going on. I'm sure I missed quite a few details in that story.

Having conceded that, I also think the circumstances in today's story should be considered on their own merit (or lack thereof).

If the tax search records are correct, Requitta Bone hasn't been current since 2003. I know she's history, but it makes me wonder how widespread the practice is and how discretionary the assessments are if you are a government employee.

Yes, I remember the contentious appointment meeting (although I couldn't have told you all these years later who was appointed in Mayfield's stead), and I remember the recall effort led by Margaret Held that ensued. I also read the M-P story on Malone in '01. I just couldn't remember McKenzie having any role in this...

So, how would you describe McKenzie's financial means? Who should we expect to receive these "forgivable loans," and how should we expect to see them work?

(Gone to a parent meeting at the high school. Will check in later.)

Hey, careful. I used to live in Claiborne County. I don't think I qualify as a rube or a hayseed, although I might well be a "baffoon."

Come one guys get a grip especially you Betty Bean.Putting a relative of the old councilman in with that relative planning to run again or putting in somebody who said he would serve the time out and step aside and not run again so other people could seek it out fair and square. I think the second way of doing it is more reform and good government than the first.Except Betty and some others liked Mayfield so that makes nepotism OK.Then you go after people as screwed up and not up to your standards if they give money to a reform group now but they did not rise up for nepotism back then.By the way you are right about the way they handled it.It was awful

What you don't seem to get is this: "The way they handled it" was worse than awful. It was ILLEGAL.

Do you understand that what you are supporting was just as much an illegal, backroom deal as what County Commission did last January 31?

The issue was not nepotism. Danny was dead. Missy had no relatives (and few friends, it seems) in city government. What she did have was strong support from a huge number of people, many of them idealistic young people -- hundreds of whom turned out to support her at the meeting. Danny was a "break the mold" candidate, and Missy was the closest thing to him. And, as a matter of fact, she said she did not intend to run for the seat (although I wished that she would).

The issue was not personality -- although Missy is very brave, intelligent and charming.

The issue was whether we were going to have an open process or just accept the illegal, business-as-usual backroom deal being served up by Victor and the majority of City Council -- including Mr. Shouse.

Bill Lyons stood up for Missy. John Schmid stood up for Missy. Tim Burchett and his whole family stood up for Missy, and so did Joe Sullivan. That was about it for well-known, influential supporters who were willing to buck Victor. If any of them had been on this good government committee, I'd have more respect for it.