Wed
Oct 22 2008
04:54 pm
Are Ye Fer Us or Agin Us? Why I Came Out Against the Charter Amendments
By: Lisa Starbuck

Some of you may be wondering why I held a press conference on the charter petitions yesterday. As a general rule, I don't like to tell people how to vote (unless you are an elected official - then think you should care about what I and all your other constituents think before you vote), so I hadn't planned on speaking out about the charter amendments other than to those who happened to ask my opinion.

When I realized that the Charter Petition group (now called Knox Accountability) had used my name in a News-Sentinel ad last week, I felt I needed to speak out since I had resigned from the group back in March of 2008 and I didn't want people to think that I supported the amendments. I do often try to communicate about issues I care about so that people who may also be concerned or have an interest will know about it, and I didn't want anyone to misunderstand. Also, I was involved in the successful Recall Amendment effort that passed in August, and I didn't want anyone to get the two efforts confused. The amendments themselves are confusing enough!

I resigned from the CP group because I began to have concerns about the way things were being done to push the charter amendments, and I had second thoughts about being involved. I know there are many good people involved in this group, which is now being called Knox Accountability, several of which are my friends, but we can agree to disagree and still remain friends.

When the issue of the charter amendments started heating up, and as I attended the debates, neighborhood and civic meetings, I began hearing from many others in the community who, like me, initially supported the Knox County, One Question effort, but who had become concerned that the public input had been twisted into something unrecognizable. The perceived inflexibility and arrogance of the Charter Petition committee when they put the proposed amendments before the public and before County Commission was very off-putting and controversial. I also heard from many in my community after the group’s funding sources were released, which included several names that were surprising to me.

I live in the 8th District, which has the largest landmass, and is one of the fastest growing districts in Knox County. The two "poison pill" amendments that "take away the right to vote" for fee offices and reduce the number of commissioners in each district are hugely unpopular with many people in my district. After thinking through the logistics, I believe it would be very difficult for one part-time commissioner to adequately cover this district, and I think it would be unlikely for the at-large commissioners to relate to our unique issues.

Further, it would take a lot of money to run county-wide for the at-large seats. Their largest constituency would be in West Knoxville - so I think their campaigns would be funded from West Knox - and during an issue they would hear from more people in West Knox simply because there are so many of them and they are much more organized than other parts of the county. (Note to West Knoxvillians - it's nothing personal, see Hardin Valley High School, discussed elsewhere on this site.)

Bottom line, I think all the other districts would end up with 1 commissioner, while West Knox would in effect get 3. I definitely think it would rearrange priorities - the 1st, 2nd, and 7th districts would have less influence than West Knox, but still would have some because of population and organizations. I think the biggest losers would be South Knox and Northeast Knox County - mainly because of the population difference. I know there are those who say that at-large candidates come from all parts of the county, but the reality is that the big checks that fund them mostly come from West Knoxville.

The past couple of elections I have gone up to the Election Commission and copied all the campaign contributions for all the commissioners and other officials. What an eyeopener! It is developers and the homebuilder/real estate PACs writing the big checks that is funding many of them. I know there are commissioners who get "influenced" (hard to say no to that big checkwriter too many times or you won't get any more checks) and I think it would cost a lot less for influencers (and their lobbyists) to get 6 commissioners to line up than it does 11 - and I do think it will happen. It probably would make for faster meetings and decision making, but I don't think those of us in the less populated areas would like the decisions!

With regard to the fee offices, it really sends a shiver down my spine to think of the mayor (any mayor) with that much raw power. Think of the names you have heard of that are considering running for mayor in 2010. Having absolute control of the county is really scary, and with control of the fee offices and "influencing" (campaign contributions and other) 6 commissioners, it could be done. I think there have been abuses and fiefdoms in the past in the fee offices, but term limits will solve that problem.

While there are some ideas in the charter amendments that have merit, I don’t think this is the correct process for addressing them. There are too many things being changed at once, and it is confusing to people I have spoken with. We should slow down and give each amendment an opportunity to be considered on its own merit, not bundled together so that we are forced to take the bitter with the sweet.

I certainly wouldn't mind revisiting some of the ideas in a less hasty fashion, with a little more dialog and thoughtful debate and lot less rhetoric on both sides. If there is truly support for these amendments, we should put them on the ballot the proper way - with each one standing on its own.

Much has changed in Knox County since the Knox County, One Question process including term limits, the Sunshine law injunction, and the formation of the ethics committee. We should give these dramatic changes a chance to work before we make further changes to our charter.

Topics:
Tamara Shepherd's picture

So sorry

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Wed, 2008/10/22 - 10:01pm.

When I realized that the Charter Petition group (now called Knox Accountability) had used my name in a News-Sentinel ad last week, I felt I needed to speak out since I had resigned from the group back in March of 2008 and I didn't want people to think that I supported the amendments.

I certainly understood this, Lisa. Of course, I recall our conversation back in March, when you left Knox Charter Petition.

Gary Drinnen explained the nature of the error that landed your name in that ad, I hope? "Someone" with KCP (I don't know that it was Gary) sent all steering committee members an e-mail, advising that the ad would run with our names. The e-mail advised that if we did NOT for any reason want our names published, we should respond. It indicated, though, that no response would imply consent for our names to appear.

I'm afraid that "someone" attached the e-mail to an older one which had been sent to you, as well, causing you to get the e-mail (and ultimately causing your name to appear in the ad).

I can understand why the sender didn't catch the error--I didn't either, when it landed in my inbox--and I can also understand why you likely didn't open the e-mail on receiving it. You were no longer participating, after all.

It was an unfortunate incident, but please know that it wasn't a deceitful one on the part of KCP.

Just curious's picture

Tamara, I had thought I

Submitted by Just curious (not verified) on Thu, 2008/10/23 - 1:31pm.

Tamara,

I had thought I heard that you resigned as well. I'm not asking for you to explain why (and you may not have resigned), but if you did, were you sent the e-mail that you refer to asking to be included in the ad?

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Resigned and returned

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Thu, 2008/10/23 - 1:58pm.

Yes, I resigned when the mayor's office asked me to serve on that proposed Charter Review Committee, because I felt I should fully commit to the new process.

KCP was beginning to take some flak for being "inflexible," you'll recall, and I wanted to ensure that my prospective peers there felt I would be willing to work with them.

After commission rejected the proposed Charter Review Committee, Commissioner Briggs then contacted me to share his thought that an "ad hoc" committee might review the amendments. I remained at arms length from KCP through those discussions, too.

It was only after commission declined to create this second panel, either, that I contacted Laurens and indicated that I wanted to return to the only reform effort underway in Knox County!

I haven't done as much for KCP as I would have liked. I've spoken with the Democratic Women's Club, some neighbors, and collected fewer signatures than I had hoped.

Since the KCOQ process, in which I also participated, I have always supported KCP's goals.

(Oh...and yes, I also received the e-mail concerning the ad.)

Anonymously Nine's picture

Seriously...

Submitted by Anonymously Nine (not verified) on Wed, 2008/10/22 - 10:33pm.

Gary Drinnen explained the nature of the error that landed your name in that ad, I hope? "Someone" with KCP (I don't know that it was Gary) sent all steering committee members an e-mail, advising that the ad would run with our names. The e-mail advised that if we did NOT for any reason want our names published, we should respond. It indicated, though, that no response would imply consent for our names to appear.

An email? It was less than sixty people. They had worked hard for you.

You couldn't call them on the phone? A simple courtesy?

Unbelievable.

bill young's picture

Why YES/YES or NO/NO??

Submitted by bill young on Thu, 2008/10/23 - 1:50pm.

I dont know why the debate on the charter amdendment questions has become an all in proposition.

I understand the political organizations doing what they are doing & the N-S is a yes vote on both so I see where they are comming from.

But I dont understand why nobody anywhere is explaining to the voters that they can do what I did..vote yes on one & no on the other.

On other threads I have explained why I voted no on 3.

I also said I agreed with Betty on 4.

However,there is one other reason I voted yes on 4.I'm a Democrat & there's no way in hell we are ever going to take over the courhouse under the current system.

Sure we've had the clerk's office under Padgent & Tommy was county executive in the 90's.The last time the Democrats elected a sheriff was when Fowler was re-elected in 1986.

Both Tommy & Mike had to tip toe around being Democrats in this Republican county if they wanted to get re-elected.Fowler was elected sheriff in 1982 not because he was a Democrat but because Jenkins was out of control.

However,if 4 passes all we have to do is win the county mayor's office & wham bam we got us a political organization.

We take that organization in '14 & at the very least win the property assesor & if the creek dont rise we elect us a sheriff.

If both pass & we elect a Democratic mayor we can set our sights on the 2 at-large commission seats with the money raised by the mayor's crew.

Hold districts 1,2 & 4 bust a move on one other district seat..the Democrats own the county!

One other thing..I know the 1st is a 6 year seat..so if we take other 6 year seats in '10..we aint gotta worry about them in '14.

Dreaming...maybe but in the system we have right now all my dreams of a Democratic courthouse turn into nightmares.

Anonymously Nine's picture

Did they chicken out?

Submitted by Anonymously Nine (not verified) on Thu, 2008/10/23 - 3:05pm.

What happened at the Freeze Mob? I heard it was a bust.

bill young's picture

Holy Knox Accountability...BATMAN!!

Submitted by bill young on Thu, 2008/10/23 - 4:46pm.

To the batpoles Robin..We must get to Market Square Mall..quick.

Mr.Freeze & his mob are up to no good!!

They are going to freeze the good citizens & when they melt they are going to vote YES!!

Whats the anti-freeze Batman?

Ms. Defreeze my young friend!

Anonymously Nine's picture

Nice Photoshop job...

Submitted by Anonymously Nine (not verified) on Sat, 2008/10/25 - 4:34pm.

The Knox Accountability folks are very proud of their Photoshopped television ad running on local TV. Look carefully at the headline and the subheadline. That is photoshopped. Those headlines never existed.

The actual article is here:

(link...)

Question, is that honest? No, it isn't.

Do "accountable" people print false newspaper headlines? Because that is like, lying.

For your consideration:

(link...)

Perhaps journalism expert Metulj can give an opinion? Is faking a headline and a subheadline acceptable?

All kidding aside, can you believe this? After all of this deception they stoop to fake headlines?

Why? Why would anyone do that?

If you would like to see the other side of the issue, you can learn more at:

(link...)

Lisa Starbuck's picture

Update

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Sun, 2008/10/26 - 4:22pm.

And for the record, I received an email apology for using my name in the newspaper ad from the KCP's volunteer coordinator, Mark McComas, and an in-person apology from Laurens Tullock earlier today.

bizgrrl's picture

Anyone know where I can

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 2008/10/31 - 10:17am.

Anyone know where I can download/print a copy of the Knox County proposed charter amendment changes on the November 4 election ballot, Question 1 and Question 2?

Tamara Shepherd's picture

EC site

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Fri, 2008/10/31 - 11:33am.

Just click on "Sample Ballot" at the Election Commission's site: (link...)

(That's the condensed ballot text, of course.)

R. Neal's picture

Got that. She's wanting the

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2008/10/31 - 11:41am.

Got that. She's wanting the full text of the proposed amendment if such a thing exists. I noticed some are sort of on the couny commission website as proposed for first reading before they were voted down. Don't remember if these were on there or not.

Anonymously Nine's picture

Might not make the front page of KnoxViews...

Submitted by Anonymously Nine (not verified) on Fri, 2008/10/31 - 1:56pm.

Knox Charter Petition activist Finbarr Saunders has gotten into serious legal trouble. 20 million dollars worth. It seems some neighborhood activism has gone seriously astray. Just like the Knox Charter Petition people will say anything, it seems that this neighborhood group has the same bad habits.

Will Finbarr Saunders be the next Commissioner removed? Will the Metro Pulse be bankrupted? Even the parent company of the Knoxville News Sentinel has been sued. Yet for some reason the News Sentinel does not have the story. Another omission?

Only in Knoxville.

The story:

(link...)

The lawsuit:

(link...)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Doctors sue Bearden neighbors, Metro Pulse for $20 million

A Bearden neighborhood is under fire, the target of a $20 million lawsuit.

It all started this summer when the Westwood Homeowners Association published a newsletter raising concerns about patients getting prescriptions at the pain clinic, Bearden Healthcare Associates, and then filling them at the nearest pharmacy, the Bearden Food City.

The article quoted unnamed Knoxville police and Drug Enforcement Agency sources, going on to say the practice had led to several armed robberies and drug deals in the parking lot of the shopping center where the Food City is located.

Nobody's picture

The Sentinel did cover the

Submitted by Nobody (not verified) on Sat, 2008/11/01 - 3:45pm.

The Sentinel did cover the story:

(link...)

Rachel's picture

Oh, God, don't get him started

Submitted by Rachel on Sat, 2008/11/01 - 4:10pm.

over here. He's doing enough ranting about this over on the blab.

Anonymously Nine's picture

Rant?

Submitted by Anonymously Nine (not verified) on Sun, 2008/11/02 - 2:39pm.

Oh, God, don't get him started over here. He's doing enough ranting about this over on the blab.

The Sentinel conceals the story for Finbarr Saunders at the same time they destroy Mike McMillan.

(link...)

(link...)

What is the opposite of a rant? Concealment? Omission? But its all good because one Commissioner is progressive and the former Commissioner is an evil conservative. The Sentinel has its standards.

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