P.S. In case anyone is wondering, this is not an endorsement. It occurs to me, however, that this information will likely appeal to a not insignificant segment of the local electorate. So, my apologies for that.

Opponents to the current, corporate-driven, test-and-punish privatization movement certainly make strange bedfellows.

I'll take Absher to incumbent Fugate any day of the week.

People who returned petitions according to Knox county election commission
Sally Absher
Jeffrey S. (Scott) Clark
Lynne L. Fugate

Anybody know anything about Mr.Clark?

You just never know what will bring out the true colors.

And you don't think Absher will try to insert her extreme RWNJ ideas on school curriculum or policy? Or use a seat on the school board as a stepping stone to higher office? Would you like to see her on County Commission or in the state legislature? Sorry, but anyone who votes for Absher is friggin' nuts.

This whole thing is turning quite bizarre in a high stakes way rather early in the year.

Strange tales from a strange time as the good Doctor would say.

See what happens when you base your vote on a single issue (i.e., get rid of McIntyre)? This woman is likely to do a great deal of harm to public education before she's done.

Fergawdsakes y'all can't actually be planning to vote for her?

The enemy of your enemy is your friend.

Bill Haslam is far more rightwing, in all the wrong ways, than Absher is, and his brand of "conservatism" is far more destructive to our way of life.

Can't somebody just ask her what she'd do as a school board member?

This woman is likely to do a great deal of harm to public education before she's done.

How so? Explain to us what kind of harm you think she will do.

It's a bad idea to base your vote on a single issue. The folks who wanted to defeat the Midway Business Park threw their weight in favor of Jeff Ownby for County Commission in exchange for his promise to vote against it. The incumbent and his opponent supported the park but was a far better all around candidate. I hope those folks are happy they helped to saddle the county with 6 years of Ownby.

You don't think Absher will try to impose her notions that climate change is a hoax? Or fight for equal footing for creationism? Sustainability is a 4 letter word for her. I can't imagine allowing anyone with this belief system to influence the education of children.

Boy, Howdy, I've never seen a thread metastasize this fast. I get busy in the back room, and you crazy kids go apeshit.

I've met GSD, by the way, and he seems like a pretty fine fearless fellow.

Cleanup on aisle three. Carry on.

Damn, there's some craziness on here. I'm with Rachel and Bubba and Stick and Knoxgal.

Carry on.

Well, they have won again. McIntyre and the current school board have succeeded in getting those who question them to turn on each other. The real issue here is that the public needs to be informed about ALL the candidates, and the candidates do need to make their platforms known. As for me, I am sick and tired of hearing that folks in Knox County can do NOTHING about decisions made at the state level, including TVASS. This is what McIntyre and the board would love for us to believe. This is when we make our voices heard through newspapers, TV, social media, e-mails to our legislators, and demonstrations on the steps of the capitol building in Nashville. Our current officials would love nothing more than for us to feel that we are helpless in this situation. As for anybody who thinks TVASS is OK for evaluating teachers, do you want to be evaluated based on a rolling score which changes for two years after a student is no longer in your classroom, and possibly even out of your school? I will also speak for GSD...few people in this county have put their livelihood on the line quite like this person in the last several months. It is easy to pontificate on a blog when you aren't criticizing your own employer and risking the job that supports your family.If you want to make somebody the bad guy, you have chosen....poorly. Please remember what the teachers who have been vilified over the last several months are fighting and support them rather than criticize their personal political choices. They are fighting for our children.....grow up and set a good example for them about how adults should act.

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Hey, I'm probably fairly conservative compared some folks on this site and I could never bring myself to vote for her for any office.

And in all her rants against 'green energy, green jobs', she has yet to mention one dang thing she would do to protect our public schools from vouchers, charter schools or wasting our dollars on 'virtual classrooms'. She has NO experience in the classroom. She mentioned NOTHING about working for our CHILDREN. I don't care how many right wing NJ boards she is on, she should not be a considered a serious candidate for SCHOOL BOARD in ANY District in Knox County.
It is clear she supports Kevin Huffman's approach to destroying our public schools by firing great teachers, putting pressure on the CHILDREN with all these 'teacher evanuations' and ideas like Stacey's to have children be responsible for how much financial aid their FAMILY receives. We need a candidate in EVERY District who will stand up for our children. She probably does not know WHAT the TVAAS IS.

I ignored this thread up until just now. Wowee.

People who are concerned about the 'education reform' movement, systemic disrespect of teachers, voucherizing public education, etc. need to pay very careful attention, here. This Absher lady is not alone. Tea Party nuts are seemingly allied with you, but for all the wrong reasons. If you do not distance yourselves from them, you will find your movement co-opted and carried off in a direction you will regret to your very core.

These folks may share your opposition to the current education reform movement, but it is because they see it as a part of the Socialist Obama/Agenda 21 conspiracy to exert centralized control over the populace. For them, the next step after thwarting the current education reform movement is not creating better funded schools, smaller teacher-to-pupil ratios, and de-politicization of the curriculum. They are not opposing it so that we can steer away from turning public education into vocational prep in support of big business.

No, for these folks, the point is to hyper-localize control of education so that they can very specifically politicize the curriculum. They want teachers to 'teach the controversy' about climate change, to replace evolutionary biology with intelligent design, and for teachers to start every school day leading a Christian prayer. Following the prayer, they want history classes to be cleansed of references to the contributions of minorities, and to instruct students on how the Founding Fathers created a Christian Nation.

Because you are focused on one goal, you think they share your values. They do not. You think their other views are harmless and can be otherwise contained after they help you accomplish your one goal. Not so. These are the same crowd as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who is continually willing to plunge all of us into economic chaos in order to achieve rigid Tea Party ideals. Once voted into elective office, they will use every tactic within their means to derail every aspect of the public process that does not serve to support their entire platform. For them, there is no compromise. These people are not your friends.

When, in your own mind, you have so villainized your opponent that you are willing to sacrifice every other ideal and value you hold in order to defeat that opponent, you should stop yourself and take time to reflect upon what you have become. Your old self probably wouldn't like your new self. Pay attention.

Thanks for saying this so well. People have to look at the whole picture. They can't allow themselves to be blinded by a single issue. I guarantee you for people like Absher, school board is just a stepping stone to higher political office and greater political power. I would encourage everyone on this board to do whatever they can to stop her. She is dangerous.

Well, I wasn't sure I cared to post on this point, but maybe it's necessary...

If you've possibly taken a look at my Facebook page, you'll find Ms. Absher there. You've possibly seen her "likes" on every aspect of the page, too.

It's not even because I'm a newbie to Facebook that I accepted her "friend" request, just as I have anyone else's.

It is because I'm someone who signs any candidate petition thrust in my face, on the rationale that I can hear what they have to say soon.

And it is because I'm someone who has long been content to post at the less-than-intellectual KNS site, on the rationale that even if I shouldn't learn anything there in a particular conversation, maybe someone else can learn something there from my contribution to that conversation.

That sort of thing...

So if Ms. Absher should write me via that page, whether privately or publically, my choice would be to converse with her.

If that should happen publically, don't make too much of it. That's just how I roll.

So what's the best way to inform the voters of the 4th district about Absher's true colors? It would be helpful if Clark turns out to be a reasonable candidate who, armed with appropriate information, could educate his prospective constituents, but I think any candidate will need help. To start with, there's a League of Women Voters forum planned at some point. A piece in the media would be helpful, though. CWG? Donila? Anyone game?