The Knox County Democratic Party executive committee has voted to hold an open convention to select their nominee for the Criminal Court Clerk vacancy. The convention will be Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 6:30 at the Main Assembly Room at the City-County Building. It is open to all Knox County Democrats who are registered voters.

In related news, former Knox Dem chair Don Daugherty announced his intention to seek the nomination. Earlier this week he issued a statement, the text of which follows after the jump...

From: Don Daugherty

Fellow Democrats:

The Board of Governors of the Democratic Party of Knox County has set a county convention for Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 6:30 at the Main Assembly Room at the City-County Building for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the November 4, 2008 election for Criminal Court Clerk and any other positions which might be placed on the ballot following the August 7 county general election. The Criminal Court Clerk position became vacant upon the passing of long-time Republican clerk, Martha Phillips. While the Democrats currently hold all three Criminal Court Judgeships, we have not held the Criminal Court Clerk position for several decades. With several Republicans vying for their party's nomination and several other Republicans on the ballot as Independents, we have an opportunity to win this seat for the first time in my memory.

I would like to be the Democratic nominee for this office and will be
contacting a s many people as possible over the coming three weeks to
line up their support. I would also appreciate an opportunity to discuss this with you or answer any questions you may have, and to gain your support at the August 19 convention. At this time, I am the only announced Democratic candidate, but others may express interest in the coming weeks. Hopefully, unlike the GOP, the Democrats will unite behind a single candidate.

The Criminal Court Clerk's Office is responsible for retaining, preserving and managing all documentation regarding court proceedings. The office handles approximately 75,000 citations, misdemeanor citations, misdemeanors and felonies annually, and calculates and collects court costs. After reviewing data about the office, it appears that this office has the potential to be a fully self-sufficient, self-sustainable office, paying for itself. It can, many familiar with the same data believe, collect millions of dollars more every year in costs than in the past.

I have spent the past three weeks discussing the position with grassroots Democrats, officeholders, candidates, and party officials. More than anything, we need competence, accountability, and leadership throughout Knox County government. I believe that I am well-qualified for the job. In addition to having a law degree and being an independent legal writer, I have served as a legal administrator supervising a staff of attorneys and support personnel comparable to the clerk’s office. In the early 1990's, I was contracted by the Circuit Court Clerk to develop the court cost and fines collection office for Circuit and General Sessions Courts, to consult with the Circuit Court Clerk and District Attorney on those issues, and draft the manual used by the Clerk's cost collections' department.

I hope you will attend the convention and support me in this race, and
I look forward to discussing th is position with you.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Don Daugherty