Mon
Aug 14 2006
12:23 pm
Breaking term limits news
By: R. Neal

Michael Silence reports that the first term-limits lawsuit has been filed, seeking ouster of Diane Jordan. Wonder why she is being singled out? Guess we'll know more when Michael files his full report.

UPDATE: KNS says Nick Della Volpe, a write-in candidate defeated by Jordan in the Aug. 3rd election, filed the lawsuit. Will this be the first of many?

Topics:
Knoxquerious's picture

Tax Dollars Hard at Work

Submitted by Knoxquerious on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 1:42pm.

This is what Knox County needs, more lawsuits than the county law director can handle. Can someone smell another sheriff suit? Wonder how much this one will cost?

Number9's picture

Popping popcorn and settling

Submitted by Number9 on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 3:00pm.

Popping popcorn and settling in for the 4 reel feature... #9? Your thoughts?

Interesting tactic from Nick Della Volpe. He is asking for a stay. Can that be done? Talk about a monkey wrench in the machinery.

When will the election be certified?

This is a field day for local lawyers. I wonder how much the tab will be?

I think there is a movie script in this trainwreck. It would be a comedy of course.

Me's picture

hmm

Submitted by Me (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 4:01pm.

Maybe he's thinking he lost to someone who isn't eligible to serve, so he should get the seat?

If he's right, then County Commission wouldn't be appointing someone to replace Diane "this is my lifestyle" Jordan. The court would.

Perhaps other 2nd place finishers will be following suit.

Stacey's picture

lawsuit

Submitted by Stacey (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 5:59pm.

Glad he filed, someone needed to just to get the question to court. Stacey

Greg Mackay's picture

Will this be the first of many?

Submitted by Greg Mackay (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 5:48pm.

Doubtfull.
Candidates have 10 days from the election to file a contest.

R. Neal's picture

Candidates have 10 days from

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 6:16pm.

Candidates have 10 days from the election to file a contest.

That's a good point. On the other hand, I would imagine a citizen, taxpayer, or losing candidate could file suit at any time to request that the courts enforce term limits passed by voters in 1994?

---
Don't ping my cheese with your bandwidth!
(C) Dilbert

Greg Mackay's picture

I would imagine

Submitted by Greg Mackay (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 7:41pm.

Any lawyers about who can explain "standing" to young grasshopper?

R. Neal's picture

Grasshopper understands...

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2006/08/14 - 7:54pm.

Oh, grasshopper understands "standing" in re. an election challenge, sensei. (Grasshopper was schooled on this by way of Bush V. Gore in the Supreme Court. Wax on, wax off.)

Are you saying Knox Count voters never had and never will have standing to request enforcement of term limits they voted for 12 years ago?

Sounds like a class action deal, if a lawyer would take such a case that didn't involve personal injury. Not that any challengers in the Aug. 3 election suffered any personal injury or anything.

And not that Knox County needs any more lawsuits. Heh.

---
Don't ping my cheese with your bandwidth!
(C) Dilbert

Knoxquerious's picture

Pandora's Box

Submitted by Knoxquerious on Tue, 2006/08/15 - 7:49am.

Which judge would take this case? Conflicts of interests are everywhere with our judicial bodies. You know the establishment is wrenching at Nick for doing this if for some reason Diane is dropped. We all know what that would mean for the rest of the jokers. Today is a good day for indeed for local attorneys and I personally hope Nick can snatch the pebble from the hand of Diane's lifestyle.

Me's picture

quote

Submitted by Me (not verified) on Tue, 2006/08/15 - 8:01am.

Jordan was quoted on WBIR's story on this last night that Dellavolpe was a "sore loser."

So what do you call someone who filed suit trying to undo the county's charter to try to stay in office?

Anonymous's picture

Diane's statement of Nick

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2006/08/15 - 8:30am.

Diane's statement of Nick being a "sore loser" is like the Pot calling the Kettle black. Would someone tell her that hat she wears all the time makes her look like a rodeo clown.

bill young's picture

tell her yourself

Submitted by bill young (not verified) on Tue, 2006/08/15 - 12:19pm.

anonymous...I voted for Diane Jordan..However,I understand why folks disagree with Commissioner Jordan but why would you ask someone else to make such remarks to Diane? Go to the next commission meeting & tell her yourself

Bbeanster's picture

Della Volpe wasn't a

Submitted by Bbeanster on Tue, 2006/08/15 - 8:26am.

Della Volpe wasn't a write-in August 3.
He was on the ballot as the Republican nominee. He got there by running a successful write-in campaign in the primary.

BlueNeck1's picture

Nick's Lawsuit

Submitted by BlueNeck1 on Tue, 2006/08/15 - 7:23pm.

A few days ago after the Charter Review Committee "finished its work" Law Director Moyers said something to the effect that the County just wants to be ready in the event we need to put a new charter before the voters. Knox County is waiting for the State Supreme Court to issue its ruling on the term limit lawsuits, etc. The NS article said the County imagines more than 20 possible scenarios after a Supreme Court Decision. Until then everyone is waiting. The winners, losers, wannabees, everyone. Nick took the only action available to the losers at this time - contest the election. I don't think his lawsuit matters. If the Supremes uphold the Charter then there could be all sorts of death spiral outcomes. I think Rikki suggested that the Supremes may make some pre-emptive decisions that no one has asked them to make. They would do this to prevent new cases related to Knox term limits from coming to them in the future. If the Supremes agree with Weaver then the election will likely stand regardless of Nick's lawsuit. If the Supremes disagree with Weaver lot's of things are possible. What is likely I can't predict. I predicted Weaver would throw out the Charter and in my circle of friends I was a lone voice crying out in the wilderness. In the event the "term-limited" commissioners are removed from office the apparent process is to have the remaining commissioners appoint their replacements. If that happens, Nick will be on the sidelines watching like the rest of the 2nd place finishers. However, I imagine the the Supremes could prescribe how those positions should be filled in order to prevent additional shenanigans and lawsuits. Who knows what could happen then?

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