I'm here live blogging the historic appointment meeting today. Congratulations to new 2nd District appointee Mark Campen and 9th District appointee Victoria DeFreese, both of which will be EXCELLENT commissioners! This place is pretty full, a few empty seats and a whole string of folks lined up against the back windows. Lots of familiar faces. Pretty impassioned discussion going on here about the possible appointment of someone (Sam McKenzie) who is still in the election. Lots of media here and lots of long time politicos. In spite of the multiple persons making the case against appointing McKenzie, it looks like they are going to go forward with McKenzie. I think it is likely they will also go for Briggs. I wasn't here but I believe the 6th District appointment was done first, and Roundtree was appointed. Don't know him. There was a huge backup in the parking lot this morning as well as a line outside to get in to the CC building. McKenzie was just appointed in the 1st District 10-1. Looks like another great commissioner added - Dave Wright in the 8th District. Several nominees for the 4th district seat 4-B. I would like to see another woman added to the commission, although I thought all the nominees were quality people - go Elaine! Looks like it may take several rounds to get to the 4-B Seat. There seems to be some problem with the count as well. They are now doing a vote do-over, didn't speak clearly enough or something in the first vote. They have gone through three rounds of voting on Seat 4-B so far, and no one has dropped off because there keeps being a tie. Seems to be a lot of support for Daniels and Alford. Commissioner Mark Harmon just threw his vote from Elaine Davis to Wm. Daniels but quipped "but you better be nice to Davis for Seat 4-A" The audience has found several comments by commissioners funny. Good vibe going on here today. Daniels was just appointed for 4-B. Next up, District 5. I was going to nominate Pam Treacy for this seat, because I believe that someone who still has a race to run should not be appointed. Also, because I have worked with Pamela on School Matters and other things and she would be an excellent commissioner. Mark Harmon started off nominating her, so I didn't have to. Mr. Briggs is probably going to get this appointment. Seems like a very qualified guy, and I'm sure he will be a good one. But I still think he should have disqualified himself since he's still running. Not only will it create an incumbency, but also it will affect his campaign - I believe in a negative way. Mike Hammond is talking about why he is going to support Briggs. Update: Yea! Elaine Davis just got appointed for seat 4-A! Strickland just said that there would be a new commissioner workshop on Friday. Now we are heading for the county-wide appointments. Randy Tyree has been here the whole time - JJ Jones just walked in. Amy Vandergriff just walked up to the podium just as Scott Moore was nominating her. She commented as she was walking up that she was already on the way up before Moore nominated her. Moore made the comment that he felt the media made much of his discussion with her - and said that he made the same comment to Foster Arnett but the media didn't report it. Update: Larry Smith is asking Vandergriff if she was prepared to speak today ahead of time. He got into her a little bit saying that it bothered him that she spoke on Saturday after saying she had not planned to speak and seemed to have a planned speech. Strickland cut him off and said no debate of this type - to stick to the issue at hand. Elaina Cash just nominated someone but he came to the podium and asked to withdraw. Billy Tindell has been here all day - came to the podium but didn't endorse anyone. Looks like a tie right now between Tindell, Vandergriff and Stooksbury. Larry Smith is talking about the outrage over Tindell being appointed before. Sorry folks, my battery is going and there's no room at the table for me to recharge. Congrats to all the appointees - it really is a new day in Knox County!