Thu
Jul 27 2006
11:42 am
Latest from the charter review committee
By: R. Neal

Michael Silence has an update on the latest brilliant idea from the Knox County Charter Review Committee. They propose a November ballot referendum to ask the voters which elected county offices term limits should apply to, with a separate ballot question for each elected office. What part of "all elected officials except judges" did they not understand?

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tennesseevaluesauthority's picture

Well, isn't that interesting?

Submitted by tennesseevalues... on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 12:12pm.

It just gets better. Let's expand the silliness and vote on each district, not just each office. Maybe we'll end up with a government where County Commission, 9th District, Seat B is term limited, but not 9th District, Seat A. That would be fun, too, and a heck of a compromise, don't you think? Heh.

Bbeanster's picture

Don't sweat this committee

Submitted by Bbeanster on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 2:46pm.

Don't sweat this committee -- it's irrelevant anyhow, or will be when the Supreme Court overturns Weaver's decision.

bill young's picture

weaver

Submitted by bill young (not verified) on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 3:08pm.

is there any way that the supremes would uphold weaver? no clue just askin...

Number9's picture

is there any way that the

Submitted by Number9 on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 7:53pm.

is there any way that the supremes would uphold weaver? no clue just askin...

Several commenters on Knoxnews have written Weaver will be upheld but did not provide any theory to how it could be done.

I don't see how it could be upheld but it is possible. There is a whole lot of interpreting going on. Inject a little politics and influence and anything can happen.

rikki's picture

Actually, the review

Submitted by rikki on Fri, 2006/07/28 - 1:08pm.

Actually, the review committee only becomes irrelevant if the Supreme Court upholds Weaver and trashes the charter. As long as the charter is valid, a review committee can be formed and propose whatever changes it wishes to place before the voters. So they are operating in parallel to the court's reach down.

Rachel's picture

Oh for the love of Pete! 

Submitted by Rachel on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 12:28pm.

Oh for the love of Pete!  Knox County voters already voted on this.  Just cause Mike Hammond, Shurf Tim etc. don't like the results isn't any reason for a "do-over."

 Sheesh.

Old Hickory's picture

All The More Reason for ONE Term and you're done

Submitted by Old Hickory (not verified) on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 12:30pm.

then and only then will we get rid of this culture for a class of individuals who want to make a lifestyle and a living of the public trough.

Andy Axel's picture

There's no politics like

Submitted by Andy Axel on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 12:30pm.

There's no politics like local politics.

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Number9's picture

Committee member Mike

Submitted by Number9 on Thu, 2006/07/27 - 12:32pm.

Committee member Mike Hammond, a county commissioner, made the suggestion saying people would likely want to vote on each individual office, such as sheriff and mayor.

In 1975 there was a Tennessee Constitutional Amendment that changed the term for Sheriffs in Tennessee from a maximum of three two year terms to unlimited four year terms.

Common sense would indicate that to create term limits for Sheriff it would require another Constitutional Amendment. That was the mistake of the 1994 term limits referendum.

Is it possible that this move by Hammond acknowledges that 1994 mistake?

rikki's picture

Common sense (and the

Submitted by rikki on Fri, 2006/07/28 - 1:05pm.

Common sense (and the Tennessee Supreme Court Bailey ruling) indicates that home rule counties have control over all their officers. The Knox County charter defines the office of sheriff (unlike the Shelby charter), so even if the Supreme Court changes its mind about the hybrid county government being an "unworkable anomaly" and allows certain offices to remain under state control, sheriff would not be one of them.

bobwhite's picture

charter revision committee

Submitted by bobwhite (not verified) on Fri, 2006/07/28 - 12:16pm.

In the video blurb on Ch. 10 this am, Mr Moyers appeared front and center in yesterday's meeting. Guess he was there to continue his defense of term limits, or maybe the committee needs his drafting expertise.

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