Wed
Jan 17 2007
10:50 am
On special elections
By: R. Neal

Tennessee Election Coordinator Brook Thompson sent Knox County Administrator of Elections Greg Mackay a letter stating:

[T]he Knox County Elections Commission .. cannot conduct a special election to fill these county vacancies. Rather, the election commission shall place these county offices on the regular August 7, 2008 election ballot. If the county primary boards so choose, either or both may timely call for a primary for any or all of these offices to be held with the February Presidential Preference Primary or in May.

According to Thompson, this is what is required by the Tennessee Constitution.

We were curious what a special election would cost the taxpayers of Knox County. Greg said a full special election would cost about $275,000. He wasn't sure how much a non-binding referendum as proposed by Commissioner Mark Harmon would cost, but presumably it would be less.

The Knoxville News Sentinel has more, including a report on the process proposed by Commission Chairman Scott Moore, the proposal by Commissioner Phil Guthe to ask the State Legislature for authority to hold a special election, and Commissioner Harmon's compromise proposal.

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Number9's picture

It will be appointments...

Submitted by Number9 on Wed, 2007/01/17 - 11:05am.

Commissioner Harmon's compromise proposal is inventive and appealing. The cost being the major problem and timing being a secondary problem.

Richard Beeler has it right. It will be an appointment process. It may not be fair but State statue requires it. Herb's lawsuit will just muck things up and delay the inevitable.

I am still waiting for a second lawsuit that will require the 8 term limited Commissioners to be removed before the appointment process. I would have thought someone would have proceeded with that.

If they are term limited how can they select their replacements? I know the SC wrote that they serve their term until replaced but isn't there a way to remove them? Doesn't DA Randy Nichols have that authority?

Knoxquerious's picture

Greg said a full special

Submitted by Knoxquerious on Wed, 2007/01/17 - 1:51pm.

Greg said a full special election would cost about $275,000

A small price to pay in order for the public to choose leaders rather than commissioners.

jbr's picture

Maybe whomever is

Submitted by jbr on Thu, 2007/01/18 - 4:44pm.

Maybe whomever is responsible for ignoring the referendom for 12 years will pony up the funding.

Appointments by existing politicos, county mayor, or anyone else, is basically the concept voters spoke against by voting for term limits. We appreciate the offer, but we will make our own decisions. If there was ever a basis for special election, this would seem to be it.

R. Neal's picture

Maybe whomever is

Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2007/01/18 - 4:54pm.

Maybe whomever is responsible for ignoring the referendom for 12 years will pony up the funding.

While I mostly agree with the rest of your comment, wouldn't the above include voters who kept voting for term-limited officeholders?

jbr's picture

I think that would be fine.

Submitted by jbr on Thu, 2007/01/18 - 5:06pm.

I think that would be fine.

Number9's picture

It is funny and sad at the same time...

Submitted by Number9 on Wed, 2007/01/17 - 2:20pm.

WBIR news coverage of the Term Limits debacle as various politicians give their thoughts as to the best way to handle the situation. Caution, you are entering a spin zone. You may need a good sense of humour and/or a sickness bag.

Scott1202's picture

Huh?

Submitted by Scott1202 on Wed, 2007/01/17 - 3:06pm.

Could someone please decipher the statement that Hall makes after he says "I'm a winner"?

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