As you are probably aware, the Knox Charter Petition group will now take it to the streets. The group is launching an effort to get the 40,000 signatures needed (times two) after County Commission this week voted against sending the proposed amendments directly to the voters.

UPDATE: I asked Knox County Elections Administrator Greg Mackay "who pays the $80,000 cost of verifying the petitions, taxpayers or the petition organizers?" He said "taxpayers." So the County Commission just voted to charge taxpayers $80,000 to have their voice heard. That's a lot of lobster!

A group seeking a recall provision in the Knox County charter has named a leadership organization made up of neighborhood representatives and community activists.

A charter amendment will require a petition signed by 15% of registered voters, or 34,000 signatures. The Knoxville News Sentinel has details.

Tomorrow night at 7:00, a public meeting will be held at West High to discuss the findings of the Baker Center Report on Local Government. The meeting, sponsored by the group Knox County-One Question will give citizens the chance to ask the Baker Center staff about their report and to discuss the issues with each other. Several of the findings are shocking! In some communities (very similar to ours in many respects) government is structured differently than ours. Some governments have built-in mechanisms that address some of the main concerns raised during the KCOQ public forums held in May. The Baker Center used the results of those sessions to focus their research.

Discussions will focus on what the Baker Center learned about 1) ethics, 2) accountability and responsiveness, 3) efficiency and effectiveness, and 4) citizen-driven government in other communities. Visit Link... to view the entire Baker Center Report.

Reason to come to the meeting tomorrow night:
1) Learn how other communities have structured government to deal with problems you are concerned with – problems like corruption by elected officials, failed leadership, nepotism, using tax dollars for personal gain, and more…
2) Learn how to change our government.
3) Add your own reason…

Reasons to not come tomorrow night:
1) It’s too hot.
2) “They” will never let “us” change our government.
3) I want to wait and see what kind of candidates “they" give us.
4) School just started back.
5) I’ve got tickets to a show.
6) I have to work 11 hours tomorrow, I’m tired now, I’ll be more tired then.
7) Some KnoxViews bloggers say these groups never do anything.
8) There is another meeting at the same time – the other meeting is more important.
9) Add your own reason…

Hope to see you there.

The Howard Baker Center for Public Policy has released its report commissioned by the Seven Islands Foundation on behalf of the Knox County One Question process. Here is a link to download the document: Link.... The file is large - apologies in advance to anyone with a slow connection.

All of the suggestions made during the Knox County - One Question public meetings are posted on the KCOQ website. Here is the link: Link....

The first public input session is tonight at Halls High School from 7 pm to 9 pm. You can attend any of the five meetings to make your voice heard.

In spite of what some are saying, these meetings do not have a predetermined outcome. Knox County - One Question is a result of the decision affirming that we have a home rule charter. The public comments and Baker Center Study will be reported to the public in late August. If citizens want to use that information to make changes in county government, the current charter provides a mechanism to do just that. We don't need a new charter to change the form of government.

Some current public officials, who are not involved with the 'One Question' steering committee, have proposed looking at metro or unified government. They want to throw out the current city and county charters and replace them with one new charter. Will a metro charter include term limits and a mechanism for citizens to make charter amendments? The current charter does.

Pundits, politicians, political junkies and bloggers who say this is just another metro group are either uninformed, unimaginative or deliberately trying to mislead the public. Maybe they can only imagine the current form of government or metro. I say let's listen to the ideas citizens have and look at what some other communities are doing and then decide if we can use our home rule charter to make government work better for the voters and taxpayers. If all you can imagine is the current model or metro, maybe you should come and be enlightened by your neighbors.

Sunday's News Sentinel will feature part one of UT's Howard Baker Center report on the structure and functions of local government. The report will use mostly graphics to present an overview of the governments of Knox County, the City of Knoxville and the Town of Farragut. The second part of the study will be completed in mid-summer. It will be a report of best practices in government structure and functions in communities similar in size to ours. The reports are being prepared to support the Knox County One Question process. In addition to the Baker Center reports, information will be gathered from citizens in at least five public input sessions. The first session is Monday at Halls High School. To read an executive summary of the Baker Center plan of work and for a list of all public input sessions visit: Link....

Tom Salter, who had previously started work on a Knox County Charter amendment banning nepotism among other things, has joined forces with the One Question organization.

The One Question is: "What changes, if any, do the citizens want to make to the form or structure of Government in Knox County?"

Tom notes that the group has been incorrectly tagged as a "metro government" group, which it is not. Instead, it is intended to begin a public input process regarding what changes are needed in Knox County government in light of recent events and prepare a report for the public.

The group's first meeting will be Monday, May 14, 2007 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Halls High School, 4321 E. Emory Road, 37938. Public participation is invited. More info and the schedule for the remaining meetings can be found at the Knox County One Question website. Read Tom's announcement with more info after the jump.

In related news, don't forget the Town Hall Meeting on Knox Government Ethics tomorrow, Tuesday May 1st at 7PM at the East Tennessee History Center Auditorium.

Read more about One Question...

Here's a curious bit of legislation being proposed over in Nashville. SB1761:

County Officers - Clarifies that the duties of constitutional county officers shall not be altered or abolished under a county charter form of government and failure to specifically create or specify duties of such officers shall not be deemed to abolish the offices. - Amends TCA Section 5-1-210.

Wonder what that's all about? I suppose it prevents future confusion such as the argument that Knox County's charter is deficient because it doesn't enumerate the constitutional officers.

But that part about "shall not be altered", uh, altered like as in imposing term limits? This could be interesting.

From KNS Editor Jack McElroy's blog:

As I've mentioned here before, the News Sentinel felt obligated to sue because of the impunity with which the commissioners ignored the Sunshine Law when they picked 12 replacements for term-limited office-holders. This law is one that has no real provision for enforcement other than citizens going to court. Based on the way the Commission behaved on Jan. 31, we figured we either had to sue or acknowledge that, in Knox County, the Open Meetings Act was meaningless.

Read the whole thing, including threats by Moore to go after KNS phone records and reporter's notes when Knox County Law Director John Owings suggested that County Commissioner's phone records and e-mails could come out in discovery.

Say what you will about the KNS, and I've said plenty and had plenty of differences of opinion on their editorial policy (from a political and unfortunately personal standpoint), but the KNS and McElroy are fighting the good fight here, for whatever it's worth.

Maybe it's all for show to sell papers. Or maybe it's symbolic and won't amount to anything in the end. But I'm sensing it's for real, at least on some level. Some stuff is so outrageous that it transcends KNOXGOB business as usual, and there's no more ignoring it or going along because even the most casually informed citizen can tell something is wrong.

OK, then.

The Knoxville News Sentinel explores the Knox County Commission family tree. Plus there's a handy chart. This was in the "local news" section. Maybe it should have been in the "lifestyles" section.

From Scott Barker's KNS article referenced earlier in Disclosures VII regarding newly appointed County Commissioner Richard Cate: "Cate said they've paid their tax bills. "I have a clean bill of health with the IRS and the state tax people and the county tax people," Cate said.

It appears, however, that one of his companies involved in a bankruptcy mentioned in the article (Blaze Fence, listed as administratively dissolved by the Tennessee Secretary of State) owes more than $4200 in unpaid property taxes to Knox County and the City of Knoxville. (Details here, PDF format). There are also unpaid taxes on another piece of property owned by Cate.

Paul Pinkston said he wouldn't consider a nominee who owed back taxes. Did Pinkston vote for Cate? I don't recall. (UPDATE: He did not.)

In a totally unrelated disclosure, there's this from an October 1998 Knoxville News Sentinel article by Tom Humphrey:

The [Registry of Election Finance] is threatening to impose fines on two Knoxvillians for failure to file required reports on their 1998 lobbying activities.

Richard Cate, who registered as a lobbyist for the Downtown Organization of Knoxville, faces a civil penalty of $750. Bill Nolan, a veteran lobbyist who has represented several clients, faces a penalty of $400.

Cate still had not filed his required report, said Peggy Nance Williams, executive director of the registry. Nolan filed but did so past the deadline for doing so, she said.

The point of all this is not to pile on, but that County Commission did not perform due diligence on the nominees and that there were no public meetings to discuss possible issues with these unelected officials.

As a follow up to Disclosures III, the Knoxville News Sentinel's Scott Barker has the details on newly appointed County Commissioner Richard Cate's sexual harassment lawsuit and previous bankruptcies.

According to the article, several commissioners said they did not know about this before voting to appoint Cate to County Commission.

Bonus: bizarro quote from Lumpy Lambert:

"I don't know (Cate) extremely well, but he does not seem like the type to do something like that," Lambert said. "But Ted Bundy didn't either."

Which is why Lumpy is the media's favorite go to guy for commentary on county politics.

Jonathan Wimmer tells all about the secret back room deal he was offered by Lumpy Lambert for a seat on County Commission. There was no gunplay involved.

Scott Barker reports five possible violations of state mandated ethics rules adopted by County Commission.

Those contacted for the article have some great excuses. Scooby says: "I think a reasonable person that comes to commission every month would realize my wife works for the sheriff because y'all have printed it so much." Leuthold said he disclosed his job with the trustee's office in his campaign materials.

As mentioned in comments and elsewhere, Knox Co. Mayor Ragsdale has called for a special election to coincide with the citywide elections slated for September and November of this year.

At the same press conference, he announced nominations for the new ethics committee. He also made this interesting remark:

"it has become evident to me that more needs to be done to examine these issues throughout Knox County Government, including in my own office. I will be asking the Ethics Committee to evaluate the hiring practices of the executive branch first, and I will fully support their efforts."

Not computer literate enough to post link directly, so go to Link...

ED. NOTE: Story here.

ED. UPDATES:

From the article: "The News Sentinel is seeking to void all the appointments made by commissioners, have a permanent injunction laid down by the court requiring that all future deliberations be made in public, and that the case be expedited."

The lawsuit posted at the KNS website (PDF format).

Jack McElroy has more at his blog.

I hate to pile on, and it's not as if Josh Jordan doesn't already have enough troubles, but here's another curiosity.

In his resume submitted to County Commission, Jordan lists his occupation as Owner/Licensed Contractor, M&M TN 1 CONSTRUCTION, LLC. August 2005 – present. Among his duties, he lists "Working with KCDC, Knoxville Urban League, City of Knoxville Community Development and other local companies and programs to find tenants for new and rehabilitated units."

According to the Tennessee Secretary of State, the Department of Revenue revoked the company's charter in November, 2006. There is no reason given, but it could be an indication of tax issues.

Sheriff Tim Hutchison gave out pay raises of up to 22% "just five days after learning that the state Supreme Court's term limits decision meant he would soon be forced from office."

But wait, there's more. The report confirms that term limited commissioner Mark Cawood was hired by newly appointed Sheriff J.J. Jones the day after Cawood voted to appoint Jones. It also says that Cawood first talked to the Sheriff's department about a position last fall, and that a Sheriff's department spokesperson says Hutchison hired him two weeks ago.

In 2004, a federal jury awarded $250,000 to a woman who "alleged she was fired after ending a consensual romantic relationship with the nursing home’s owner." The owner listed in the case is Richard Cate. Is this the same newly appointed Knox County Commissioner Richard Cate? Details of the case can be found here (pg. 7, "Sexual Harassment").

"At least two commissioners who voted for him said they didn’t know about Jordan’s past Wednesday but hope he’s put it behind him.

Here is the court document referenced in the article.

From a comment below, WBIR reports "New Knox County Trustee Fred Sisk announced Friday that [former Trustee Mike] Lowe will remain on staff as Deputy Trustee. Lowe will replace Sisk, who was making $75,000 annually for the same job."

Expect some news over the next few days regarding some commissioners appointed this week and back taxes, and maybe some other things. And don't forget Pinkston saying he couldn't support a nominee who had outstanding taxes.

It doesn't appear County Commission went to much effort to vet the nominees or do much in the way of due diligence. All of this would have been aired if there had been a special election, or at least an official series of public meetings.

Jonathan Wimmer says that Lumpy Lambert offered him a seat on County Commission in exchange for his vote for Lee Tramel. The Knoxville News Sentinel has the details.

Wimmer refused the deal on ethical grounds. He should have taken it. Tramel was a lock. Now the 2nd District has Bolus and Democrats give up a seat to the Hutchison Republicans. Besides, since when does Knox County government involve ethics?

In other news, Ragsdale accused of strong-arm tactics. Looks like Hutchison has the stronger arm.

The Knox County Commission called for candidates interested in filling term limit vacancies to submit a letter and a resume. They put up a website listing the candidates, including some without any letter or resume. This was apparently their idea of an open process.

Three candidates were appointed who were not on the list. Following is a snapshot of the names on the website yesterday and the appointments:

4th COMMISSION DISTRICT CANDIDATES: Scott Davis, Joan Wagner, Lisa Bogaty, William H. Daniels, Robert A. (Archie) Ellis, Jr., James Smelcher, Jr., John Deatherage, Craig Fischer, Debbie Barton, Mike Alford, Richard T. Cate, Ed Shouse, Elaine Davis.

4th DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS: Lee Tramel (not on list), Richard Cate.

5th COMMISSION DISTRICT CANDIDATES: Tom Salter, Marilyn S. Cobble, Pamela Treacy, Teresa Shupp, Gregory Harrison, Kyle H. Phillips, John R. Schoonmaker, Ken Gross.

5th DISTRICT APPOINTMENT: Frank Leuthold (not on list, father of Commissioner Craig Leuthold).

9th COMMISSION DISTRICT CANDIDATES: Josh Lowe, Bob Norton, Rob Huddleston, Matthew Myers.

9th DISTRICT APPOINTMENT: Tim Greene (not on list).

Charles Bolus was on the list for 2nd District, but did not submit a letter or resume.

There were plenty of qualified people who expressed interest. In at least one case (Tramel) and possibly another (Greene), there were more qualified candidates. In other cases there was an opportunity to bring in new, qualified people with fresh perspectives. Clearly that wasn't the plan.

Commissioners Craig Leuthold and Mike Hammond had a "forum" in the 5th District. The News Sentinel reported: "Saturday's crowd burst into applause after Hammond made comments about the process. 'I would much prefer the people make these decisions,' he said." Yeah, right. Note the 5th District appointment above. People who showed up for that forum wasted their time and ended up being insulted by the whole charade.

Mark Harmon was the only Commissioner who at least attempted to have an open process with public input from his district. Some have criticized how it was handled (i.e. not announcing there would be a straw poll that some candidates knew about but others didn't) and some have also questioned why he didn't throw his support to Wimmer when it was clear his recommendation (Amy Broyles, the "people's choice" as he put it) didn't have the votes (the first vote had 6 for Bolus and 6 for Wimmer). But at least he tried to represent his district and seek public input and carry their message to the Commission.

What happened to the pledge to "respect" commissioner's recommendations for their district? Or the plan to replace Democrats with Democrats and Republicans with Republicans?

And what about giving Tindell the bum's rush after the vote for county clerk? The outcome would likely have been quite different had he been able to remain in his seat for the rest of the proceeding. I'm sure that had nothing to do with the surprise parliamentary maneuvering to remove him.

Live blogging from the Knox County Commission special meeting to appoint replacements for vacancies created by the term-limits ruling. Running commentary after the list of appointments.

Sheriff (Tim Hutchison): J.J. Jones
County Clerk (Mike Padgett): Billy Tindell
Trustee (Mike Lowe): Fred Sisk
Register of Deeds (Steve Hall): Sherry Witt

County Commission:
1st District (Diane Jordan): Josh Jordan
2nd District (Billy Tindell): Charles Bolus
4th District A (John Schmid): Richard Cate
4th District B (Phil Guthe): Lee Tramel
5th District (John Griess): Frank Leuthold
6th District (Mark Cawood): Sharon Cawood
8th District (John Mills): Jack Huddleston
9th District (Larry Clark): Tim Greene

8:38 We are on the scene at the City County bldg. Local media is here and commissioners are huddling. Beanster just showed up.

8:57 Call to order and roll call. Lumpy Lambert absent. Prayer, pledge. Scoobie: "Play Ball!" Oh wait, recess to wait for Lumpy.

9:06 Lumpy's here, call to order. Call for nominations for Sheriff. All pass. Smith: "What are we doing here?" nominates J.J. Jones.

Only name in nomination for Sheriff is JJ Jones. Vote. 18-0 1 pass (Schmid). Jones gets it at 9:09. Jones being sworn in at 9:11. Two minute recess to wait for judge to swear him in. 9:20 Jones sworn in by Judge Workman.

9:21 County Clerk nominations. Billy Tindell, George Stooksbury. Nomination from the floor: Jeffery Lawhorn. Tindell 14, Stooksbury 4. Tindell appointed. Question to law director. Tindell's seat now vacant. Can't vote. (Betty: Tindell out of office for the first time in 30 years.) Question: If he isn't sworn in yet, why is his seat vacant. Motion to swear him in and appoint someone to his seat. (Scoobie: the votes aren't going to be close. Schmid: Do you know something we don't?) Debate about process. Motion to vote. Griess moves to go by law directors opinion. Agreed, Schmid and Harmon vote no.

9:34 Nominations for Register of Deeds. Sherry Witt. Scott Emge. Vote: Witt 17, Emge 1 (Mark Harmon). Witt appointed.

9:37 Nominations for Trustee: Fred Sisk, One nomination. Sisk appointed, Unanimous.

9:40 Guthe moves for 4th district to go first since both commissioners are being replaced. Agreed. Nominations for 4th district seat A: Elaine Davis (Mark Harmon), Schmid: my nominee (Fisher) withdrew because of article in paper re. sunshine law. Scott Davis (Schmid). Griess nominates Fisher. Schmid: he asked to be withdrawn. Withdrawn. Lee Tramel (Lambert). Mark Harmon withdraws Elaine Davis. Greiss nominates Richard Cate. Tramel 4, Cate 10, Scott Davis 4. Richard Cate appointed 4th District Seat A.

9:49 4th District Seat B nomination. Elaine Davis (Mark Harmon). Jim Smeltzer (Guthe). Scott Davis (Hammond). Lee Tramel (Lambert). William Daniels (Smith). From the floor: Ed Shouse. Vote (fifth round) Tramel 8, Scott Davis 9. (Guthe passed.) Must have 10 votes.

10:10 Ten minute recess called. (Rumor is: Davis will get it. Guthe is the center of attention. New rumor: Swear in Cates so he can vote?

10:34 Convening. Greiss moves item be moved to end of agenda and proceed. Schmid objects. Roll call. Defeated. Voting again on 4th district seat B.

10:38 Sixth vote on 4th District Seat B: Jordon changed her vote, Guthe changed from pass to Davis. Tramel 9, Davis 9. Seventh, correction, eighth round: still deadlocked. Motion to postpone. Defeated. Ninth vote: still deadlocked. Two minute recess. (Reports that Cates was in the middle of being sworn in during the previous break but when the media converged they called it off...)

10:58 Reconvened. Smith moves to allow Tramel and Davis to speak for three minutes. Required 2/3 vote to change agenda. Motion fails. Tenth vote: Still deadlocked nine to nine.

11:01 Griess moves to put the vote at the end of the agenda. Requires 2/3 vote. Motion passes.

11:03 Nominations for 1st District. Jordan nominates Josh Jordan. Helen Lewis (Mark Harmon). Nick Della Volpe (Smith). From the floor: Jimmy Golan/Golden (?) (self), Robin Brothers (self). Vote: Jordan 16, Lewis 1, Della Volpe 1. Josh Jordon appointed.

11:09 2nd District nominations. Amy Broyles (Mark Harmon) John Wimmer (Norman). Debra Porter (Smith). Charles Bolus (Moore). From the floor: Chuck Williams. Vote (third round): Bolus 6, Wimmer 6, Porter 3, Broyles 3. Recess called at 11:21.

11:35 Resumed. Fourth vote: Bolus 11, Wimmer 5, Porter 1, Broyles 2. Bolus wins. (Got an extra vote there, not sure where the error is.)

11:38 Nominations for 5th district. Teresa Shupp (Norman). Frank Leuthold (Griess). Robin Butler (Lambert). From the floor: Tom Salter. Vote: Shupp 1, Leuthold 15, Salter 1, Butler 1. Leuthold appointed.

11:46 Nominations for 6th District. Sharon Cawood (Lambert), Howard Phillips (Smith), Jimmy Shelton from the floor. Vote: Cawood 15, (others drowned out by applause).

11:48 Nominations for 8th District: Maurice Freed (Harmon), Jack Huddleston (Mills), Kay Fazier (floor), Tom Pressley (floor, Bill Young). Vote: Huddleston 17 Freed 1.

11:54 9th District nominations. Martin Pleasant (Mark Harmon), Tim Greene (Clark). From the floor: Josh Lowe, Matt Meyers (by Josh Lowe), joke nominee "the good guest" who knows when it's time to pack up and go home, Ruby Wright (self), Ronald Lee Tucker (rants about the "travesty" and says he will keep talking until they making him leave, Scoobie says "then I'll have to ask you to leave"). Vote: Greene 16, Pleasant 1. Greene Appointed.

12:00 Recess called.

12:04 Rumor: Chuck Bolus sworn in, may seat him to try to break the deadlock. Tramel in?

12:08 Reconvened. Bolus takes Tindell's seat.

12:10 Mark Harmon, point of order: notice someone new seated. Objects to swearing in one commissioner instead of all as previously agreed. Law director: this was always a possibility. Bolus has taken the oath, filed it with the clerk. He may take his seat. Schmid: Stinks! Despicable, underhanded, something to that effect. Insult to the people of the 4th district. Guthe: should we now start over for 4th District nominations? Law director: Yes, because Bolus was not involved in nominations. Lumpy: Can others be sworn in? Lumpy moves to recess to swear in replacements. Scooby, this was always a possibility. Anyone can get sworn in if they want. Guthe withdraws motion. Scoobie asks if anybody wants to be sworn in.

12:16 Start 4th District B nominations all over again. Elaine Davis (Mark Harmon), William Daniels (Norman), Lee Tramel (Ivan Harmon), Jim Smeltzer (Guthe) Scott Davis (Hammond). Scott Davis (from the floor) withdraws name from nomination. Tramel 12, Daniels 1, Smeltzer 4, Davis 1. Tramel appointed.

And that's all folks!

UPDATE: Speculation is that Ragsdale was the loser today, and now he's looking at a tough budget with a new under/unfunded pension, and no votes on county commission to raise any new taxes. One person remarked that "we just witnessed a sheriff who is out of office take over Knox County government."

Whatever it was we watched today, it was historic (as radio talk show host Hubert Smith who was sitting nearby put it) and from my point of view it was fascinating.

And not knowing who all these people were or the names being thrown around or all the power plays and insider trading going on, I REALLY appreciate Betty Bean helping me at least get some of the names spelled right. I'm sure she will have a full play by play of all the inside baseball and dynamics at play in the next Halls Shopper. Scott Barker will likely have a good report in tomorrow's News Sentinel, too.

Photos after the jump...

It is our understanding that there may be a "vote" or a straw poll or something of that nature at tonight's public forum at Whittle Springs Middle School, and that the outcome will be relayed to County Commissioners as they deliberate replacements.

It is also our understanding that not all candidates may have heard about this and therefore may not have been campaigning to get supporters to the forum.

It's not clear how this would work, because all candidates and the general public are invited, so there could be voters (and candidates) from any district.

Reminder: Public forum tonight, Monday, January 29th, starting at 6pm in the WHITTLE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 2700 White Oak Lane (the corner of Whittle Springs and White Oak). "Public, candidates, commissioners, and all interested parties are invited." More details here.

Also: the KNS, WBIR, and WNOX host a one hour program on WBIR Channel 10 TV At 7 PM tonight, Monday, Jan. 29th, to "explain who's in contention and to offer perspective from journalists, public officials and others."

The Knox County Commission will vote on replacements to fill the vacancies created by the recent term limits decision this Wednesday, Jan. 31st.

UPDATE: County Commission has put up this website with candidate info.

Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison speaks out, says "he supports [his top officer's] choice of Administrative Deputy J.J. Jones."