Wed
Apr 25 2007
12:54 pm
Town Hall Meeting on Knox County Government ethics
By: R. Neal

The Society of Professional Journalists is hosting an open town hall meeting on Knox County Government ethics, Tuesday, May 1st at 7 PM at the East Tennessee History Center Auditorium on Gay Street (across from the Tennessee Theater.

WBIR News Anchor John Becker will moderate. Participants include Rev. Ron Stewart and Commissioner Mike Hammond from the Knox Co. Ethics Commission, David Moon from the Public Trust PAC, and John Schmid and Tom Salter from Reforming Knox Co. Government.

The SPJ promises a lively discussion regarding the fallout from the term limits decision and where to go next, and invites the public and potential candidates to attend and participate in the forum.

More details after the jump...

Knox County Government and Ethics: an oxymoron?

Months ago, headlines proclaimed that a dozen Knox County commissioners and heads of county departments were term-limited and could no longer hold their seats. Their positions were filled -- but not without controversy, name-calling and a lawsuit. What happened and where do we go from here?

Join a discussion sponsored by the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists on how to move from conflict to consensus. Five officials and community activists will present their ideas on how to get from the dysfunction of the last few months, prompted by the election of County Commission members and other officials, to an orderly, people-centered process of government. We promise a panel you won't want to miss. The public is invited and very welcome at our open meeting, so invite your friends and potential candidates for the discussion.

We hope that audience members will become primary discussants!!

Moderator - John Becker, WBIR-TV News Anchor

From the Ethics Commission: Rev. Ron Stewart, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, and Mike Hammond, county commissioner and vice president of Citadel Radio

From Public Trust PAC: David Moon, secretary-treasurer, head of Moon Capital Management and financial columnist with the News Sentinel

From Reforming Knox County Government: John Schmid, former Knox County Commissioner and Tom Salter, former county commission candidate and executive director of Keep Knoxville Beautiful

May 1, 2007 7:00 p.m.
East Tennessee History Center Auditorium
610 S. Gay St. across from the Tennessee Theatre
Free parking available at the Locust St. and State St. Garages
For more information, email eleedwards@aol.com or phone 457-5459

Topics:
Bbeanster's picture

One thing that's got me

Submitted by Bbeanster on Wed, 2007/04/25 - 1:25pm.

One thing that's got me bumfuzzled is that ethics complaints are to be sent to the Rev. Stewart, who culls them and decides which ones are worthy of investigation.
A year or so ago, Stewart's name came up in a story I wrote about Mark Cawood getting called by a preacher in his district who asked him to come by the church to talk about some issues. When Cawood got there, he was escorted into an office where Mike Ragsdale awaited him. It was well-known that Cawood had been on the Ragsdale hit list ever since he opposed the wheel tax, and he was extremely surprised to have been ambushed that way.
Maybe there wasn't anything wrong with what Stewart did, or maybe there was. Maybe he just wanted to help bring peace to the valley. It's certainly ethically debatable.
Also, Stewart is one of two Baptist ministers on this committee, and both he and the Rev. Clarence Sexton (Lumpy Lambert's preacher) hail from the same district. What's up with that? If they have to load the committee up with clergy, what would be wrong with a Methodist or a Catholic, or, God help us, a Unitarian or a Jew?
P.S.: The SPJ discussion panel is pretty dang homogeneous, too -- guess it's an accurate reflection of the way bidness is done around here.

R. Neal's picture

I thought it was kinda odd

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2007/04/25 - 1:27pm.

I thought it was kinda odd to have the Revs on there, too. I don't know anything about them, and I'm sure they're fine folks, but I'm guessing it was to add a veneer of honesty and respectability to the proceedings. Seems like a Bible Belt thing that you are naturally supposed to trust a Rev. more than a "normal" person.

bill young's picture

ethics

Submitted by bill young on Wed, 2007/04/25 - 2:29pm.

I think I've got this right,didn't Lambert call
Rev.Sexton,on his cell,@ the commission meeting,to
fill a seat on the Ethics Committee?

I don't know John Schmid
I was pleased when he supported Missy
for Danny's council seat.

I know he was going for standing
to sue for term limits.
But to violate term limits in order to
enforce term limits.
Never got that.

Elaine Davis's picture

TheRevs

Submitted by Elaine Davis on Thu, 2007/04/26 - 2:26pm.

Bill is correct. At that particular commission meeting, Mayor Ragsdale presented the names of his selections for the committee and commission named theirs during the meeting in order to have equal nominees (some of which they named on the spot). Trammel nominated someone and then Lambert nominated his pastor. When Lambert did so, Trammel withdrew his nominee, a neighbor, due to the fact he had not even discussed this with his selection. Thereby, Lambert's choice became the one selected.

redmondkr's picture

I think Bbeanster has just

Submitted by redmondkr on Wed, 2007/04/25 - 2:52pm.

I think Bbeanster has just explained why Dyestone Gap Road between Ball Road and Beaver Ridge Road has remained closed to through traffic for several years since a landslide caused by construction at the Grace Christian Academy undermined its foundation.

I guess we didn't really need that road anyway.

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Greg Mackay's picture

Wednesday, May 1st at 7 PM

Submitted by Greg Mackay on Wed, 2007/04/25 - 4:43pm.

I thought May first was a Tuesday.

bizgrrl's picture

Okayyyy... Once again,

Submitted by bizgrrl on Wed, 2007/04/25 - 5:58pm.

Okayyyy... Once again, people are getting picky.

What year is it?

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