Why would he do that? I can't think of a good reason.

Should Nichols even handle this, or should it go to an out of county DA?

I'm way behind the curve on this one. This affidavit confirms enough on this issue to recommend the need for an ethics investigation at minimum.

Still worth pointing out that we're talking TennCare enrollee records here, not actual health records of individuals...  

And Mark Jones understandings to know the "public" rights to access to TennCare rolls is likey something he never encountered until this episode. He states uncertainty at one point, and then implies that they are "not" later on. The authority on this is not cited, but I assume it's under the purview of the state.

First, I reserve the right to revise comments based on watching the tape replay.

It is complex. First Mike Hammond moves to remove the resolution for an investigation from the agenda. I did not note who made the second.

Then a move to call the question was made which means there will be no debate and the vote must occur immediately. I did not note who made that motion.

John Griess corrected the Law Director John Owings on the fact that 13 votes were required instead of ten votes as the Law Director had ruled for the motion to remove the resolution.

Commission is now in a five minute break that has lasted over 15 minutes. Lumpy Lambert wanted to talk with the people in the audience who came to speak. They are obviously very upset.

Then the Commissioners broke off into different camps to discuss matters.

It is a tense situation.

Developing...

It's over for now. The applause came from all the staff from Ragsdale's office. They were all escorted by PBA people and one person by Randy Tyree out the back way so they wouldn't run into any of the folks out front.

So where does that leave it? Did they withdraw it or vote on it or what?

It was a chess game of the Knox County Charter. Had Mike Hammond prevailed with his resolution to remove the 903 resolution from the agenda it could not come before Knox County Commission for 90 days.

When Lumpy Lambert asked for the five minute recess he asked for advice. The advice was to withdraw the 903 resolution and the result is that it can be placed on next months agenda.

I thought this might happen. Tomorrows News Sentinel article may be the straw that breaks the camels back. Judging from what I heard on the radio this morning from Chad Tindell there is trouble on the way for both Mike Arms and Mike Ragsdale. I wish I could provide a way for people to hear what I heard on the radio, it sounded to me as the pressure exerted by Mike Arms on Chad Tindell would have broken several laws. The News Sentinel has an article on this Chad Tindell Mike Arms event that could not meet the deadline for Monday publication. It supposedly will be in print on Tuesday.

I did find out where the applause came from after the 903 resolution was withdrawn. It was from the audience. Mike Ragsdale had about two dozen people, county employees, who applauded when the resolution was withdrawn. Apparently they are not knowledgeable with the Knox County Charter.

Yet the most interesting part of the meeting had not occurred yet. A Vietnam veteran came to speak in the Public Forum. He first asked for a moment of silence for the veterans of both Vietnam and the two Iraq Wars. Then he told the County Commission that he had been personally attack on a guestbook, the AM 1180 guestbook/blog, by anonymous persons who claimed he had a dishonorable discharge from the military. He presented his Honorable Discharge papers and held them very close to Mike Arms' face. He spoke eloquently about how we are fortunate to live in a place where free speech is possible and spoke that no government should attack private citizens. You got the feeling he was sending a message to Mike Arms.

After the Public Forum Scott Moore challenged Mike Arms about a threat in Todd Cooks sworn affidavit. He asked Arms which County Commissioner had threatened Todd Cook with his job unless he hired family members of the unknown Commissioner. Arms said he knew nothing other than his own affidavit and suggested Chairman Moore ask Todd Cook himself. Scott Moore instructed Arms to find out who the Commissioner was and to notify County Commission. Arms looked pale and very uncomfortable.

Both Betty Bean and Frank Cagle where in the meeting. I look forward to their reports.

This is a mess. It would seem that the best course of action is for a Grand Jury from another East Tennessee County to investigate this matter. But I learned that when a close relative, don't ask, of Mike Ragsdale received a DUI he was tried by the DA in Washington County. This is the same DA that will try Jay Witt. That would not be a good choice for the potential Grand Jury.

Perhaps the TBI should step in. In 16 years of Victor Ashe we never had these kinds of problems. If that is not enough news for one day, Jay Witt's bond has been revoked.

More later...

He fancies himself as quite the sophisticate and a player, but we have all learned through the first 4 years of his tenure that there is nothing but form and truly no substance. As county mayor, he has done virtually nothing to speak of (except raise taxes) and nothing that would allow him to have any respectable chance of running for governor in 2010. Zach Wamp will have run 2 successful congressional campaigns and the chance to face off for the open seat will fall in his lap. Perhaps sound bite Mike should look at Jimmy Duncan's seat, he's only sitting there in the event one of his kids would like to take it, he get's no glory going back and forth to Washington and getting no committee assignments, no invites to the Republican events, and no perks nor benefits whatsoever.