BOE candidate Bounds to continue campaigning; backed by Vaughn

Not a whole lot of substance but here’s a statement from Patti Lou Bounds who is your new District 7 Board of Education member as of Sept. 1.

“I didn’t foresee Mr. Smith withdrawing from the race but we will continue the campaign as it started and that is to reach out to the residents of the 7^th District, identify their concerns, and make the educational experience the best possible for the parents, children, teachers and the administration. After all, the children are our future.”

I should note that the statement came from Bill Vaughn, a long-time political operative for the John Duncan family. (He is managing her campaign.) And while, I’m not sure what interest the Duncans would have in the school board races, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t mind putting the ol’ screws to R. Larry.

Lane withdraws from commission race

UPDATE: Jason Chandler, who is running for the 3^rd District County Commission seat, withdrew Thursday morning. That leaves, Randy Smith and Billy Stephens, both Republicans, to vie for the seat. Candidates have until noon Thursday to formally withdraw, and have their names removed from the ballot.

Rodney Lane, who is running for the 7^th District seat on the Knox County Commission, withdrew from the race this morning and threw his support behind his friend, and now former opponent Charles Busler.

Lane, who works in the county’s Property Assessor’s Office, said he would probably seek an elected office in the future, didn’t want to compete against Busler, who got into the race late.

Now that Lane is out, only Busler, a deacon at Sharon Baptist Church, and Bo Bennett, who ran unsuccessfully for the Knoxville mayoral post a couple years ago, are left.

They will face off in the May 6 Republican primary. No Democrats qualified to run, so the winner – barring a rare victory from a write-in candidate will take office on Sept. 1.

Incumbent R. Larry Smith is term-limited from running again.

The District includes the Halls and Fountain City area.

School Board candidate Bounds only one left in District 7 contest

The second candidate in what was a three-person race for the 7^th District Board of Education seat has withdrawn, paving the way for Patti Lou Bounds to take over in September.

Local entrepreneur Andrew Graybeal on Thursday morning pulled out of contest, calling Bounds “the most excellent choice.”

“She is immensely qualified and has true hands on experience in the classroom with students, faculty and the parents of the 7^th District,” he wrote in his withdrawal letter to the Knox County Election Commission. “It is with my highest regards to the citizens of Knox County to stand behind such a great lady, a member and an excellent public servant of the 7^th District.”

Graybeal had until noon Thursday to submit the official withdrawal paperwork to the commission in order to remove his name from the ballot.

Commission Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith, another candidate, dropped out Wednesday, saying he was impressed by Bounds’ educational experience and felt that she was a “better candidate.”

Bounds’ name will still appear by default on the May 6 non-partisan primary ballot even though she’s assured a victory.

Incumbent Kim Severance opted not to seek re-election. The last day of her term is Aug. 31.

Bounds has taught in the Knox County School System for 23 years, including the last 10 as a kindergarten teacher at Brickey-McCloud Elementary School.

According to her first campaign financial disclosure report, which was filed at the end of January, she had not raised any money. That’s more than likely changed, although the next report isn’t due until April 10.

Smith had just over $24,700 in his campaign bank account at the time he filed, but he said on Wednesday that he would return what he raised in his bid for the seat.

Records indicate that Graybeal did not turn in a disclosure form, but he also hadn’t appointed a political treasurer, so it wasn’t required.

District 7 includes the Halls and Fountain City area.

There are another four school board seats up for election this year, including the ones for Districts 1, 4, 6 and 9. The school board has nine seats.

Smith submits withdrawal notice

Commission Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith submitted his official withdrawal notice from the District 7 BOE race to the Knox County Election Commission. You can find that right smack here.

In addition, he submitted the prepared statement that he read during the news conference in which he announced that he was stepping down. You can find that right here.

Original breaking announcement right smack here.

Smith, who is term-limited on the commission, had until noon tomorrow to turn in the notice or his name would have remained on the May 6 non-partisan primary ballot.

Smith withdraws from BOE contest

R. Larry Smith

Knox County Commission Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith on Wednesday morning said he was pulling out of the District 7 School Board race because “there are better candidates.”

Smith, who is term-limited as a commissioner, said he’s raised roughly $25,000 in his campaign bid, and that he would return the money.

That leaves, Patti Lou Bounds, a teacher, and local businessman Andrew Graybeal in the contest.

Smith said that when he made his initial announcement to run in December, he felt he would be the “best person” to serve. Since then, though, others qualified to run, including Bounds whose “educational experience” he touted during his announcement Wednesday at the 640 Building.

Smith said he was “grieved by the deficiencies in our public school classroom,” and concerned about teachers who “live under the perpetual threat of job loss because some children have little or no educational support at home.”

He added that the students and teachers “deserve better.”

“(it) is my understanding that candidates have entered this race who have educational expertise and professional experience that I do not,” he said. “The stakes are too high for me to further pursue this office, knowing that there are more qualified candidates than I. Make no mistake, I want what is best for our schools and it is clear in my mind that there are better candidates.”

“To serve, you need to have the passion, time, dedication, and it helps to have experience,” he said.

Bounds has worked int he Knox County School System for 23 years, including the past 10 as a kindergarten teacher at Brickey-McCloud Elementary School.

Smith said at this point he won’t endorse either candidate but would like to meet with them.

Smith also noted that he hasn’t ruled out a future run at office. He joked that since he raised “$25,000 in three weeks” that he might have the clout to run for county mayor one day. He also said he might sit out one four-year election cycle and then run for a commission post again.

Smith’s district includes the Halls and Fountain City area.

Smith has until noon Thursday to submit an official form to the election commission that he’s withdrawing, so that his name doesn’t appear on the ballot.

The school board non-partisan primary is set for May 6.

Incumbent Kim Severance opted not to seek re-election.

Officials looking into whether Commish Vice Chair violated policy

UPDATE: Smith says he did nothing wrong.

Knox County Commission Chairman Brad Anders this morning asked the law department to look into whether the board’s vice chairman, R. Larry Smith violated any county ethics policy when he asked a county employee to email a release to fellow commissioners and the media Tuesday afternoon to “discuss the upcoming school board race.”

The discussion will take place today at a 10 a.m. “press conference” at the 640 Building on Greenway Drive.

In the release, which was on county letterhead, Smith noted that “concerned citizens are encouraged to attend.” He did not go into details.

He asked Jolie Bonavita, who works in the commission’s office, to email the release to officials and the media. Smith, by virtue of his position on the board, is technically Bonavita’s boss.

Smith, who is term-limited as a commissioner, is a candidate in the District 7 Board of Education race and is expected to challenge Andrew Graybeal and Patti Lou Bounds in the non-partisan May primary.

Other county officials say they do not use county supplies to discuss their campaigns.

For example, County Mayor Tim Burchett on Monday used his own personal Facebook page to announce that he would no longer accept campaign contributions. Burchett will not face a challenger in his re-election bid.

When a reporter called county Communications Manager Michael Grider to talk about the announcement, Grider forwarded him to the mayor.

Grider said he would not discuss campaign-related issues during county time.

“We play it safe - we never come close to that line,” Burchett said.

BOE candidate Smith to meet with media 'concerned citizens' tomorrow

Knox County Commission Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith, who is running for the District 7 School Board seat, has scheduled a "press conference" for 10 a.m. tomorrow at the 640 Building on Greenway Drive.

He said it's open to the "media and all concerned citizens" and that he will discuss the upcoming school board race.

Smith, who is term-limited as a commissioner, will take on Andrew Graybeal and Patti Lou Bounds in the non-partisan May primary. The top two vote-getters (provided no one gets 50 percent plus one) will move on to the August general election.

Stokes releases 'Meet Billy' video

Local attorney Bill Stokes, who is running for Circuit Court Judge Division 1, has released a new campaign ad, called "Meet Billy." Stokes will take on attorneys Kristi Davis and Ray Jenkins in May's Republican Primary. No Democrats filed to run.

As always, feel free to send me your stuff and I'll post it. It's also good that we have this on hand. WBIR and the Porch will be providing the best, most accurate and most objective election coverage that you're going to find in this town - bar none!

Criminal Court Clerk's Office not updating meth registry database

Another scoop:

Roughly 30 people were convicted of methamphetamine-related crimes in Knox County last year, but almost all of them can still buy pseudoephedrine, the drug's main ingredient, despite a state-mandated database that's supposed to alert pharmacists not to sell to offenders.

The problem, though, isn't contained to just 2013.

For more than half a decade, the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office has failed to properly update the Meth Offender Registry, a tool investigators and lawmakers say is crucial to combating the growing methamphetamine problem.

The registry is maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. But, criminal court clerks throughout the state are responsible for providing the bureau with the names, dates of birth and addresses, of those convicted of possessing, selling or manufacturing methamphetamine, according to state law.

Those convicted must be placed on the registry, which can be found online, for seven years. They also are banned from purchasing pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter decongestant found in cold and sinus medicines.

Records, however, show that the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office rarely complies with the law.

For example, the courts have convicted 137 defendants since mid-2008, which is when Joy McCroskey took over the office, according to records. But, her department turned over data for just seven people, or about 5 percent of those convicted.

To read the rest and watch the report click right smack here.

BOE Dist. 6 candidates making moves

So, couple things regarding the District 6 school board race.

Candidate Terry Hill will host a “coffee with the candidate event” from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday at Cozy Joe’s Care & Coffee Loft on Willow Point Way. The public is invited for a complimentary cup of coffee and to meet with Hill.

One of her opponents, Tamara Shepherd, also just sent me an email, saying she hosted her kickoff event Saturday at the same place. She said “a good crowd including 10 teachers, all of whom offered to help with her campaign (as well as) commissioners Amy Broyles, Tony Norman and Dave Wright” attended.

Here’s a video clip of Shepherd’s event right smack here.

Hill, Shepherd, Sandra Rowcliffe and Brad Buchanan are vying for the District 6 seat in the May non-partisan primary. The top two vote-getters will move on the August general election (unless someone gets 50 percent plus one).

On a side note, feel free to send me your stuff and I'll post it. It's also good that we have this on hand. WBIR and the Porch will be providing the best, most accurate and most objective election coverage that you're going to find in this town - bar none!

BOE candidate Buchanan sets schedule, to host Friday fund-raiser dinner

Looks like District 6 Board of Education candidate Brad Buchanan has a busy week.

According to his latest release he’ll have a 4 p.m. question and answer session at Bella Roma Pizza in Karms for all teachers, assistants and staff.

“I will be there until the last question is answered,” he said, adding that he’ll host more session, including one with parents.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, he’s holding a chili supper (with live music) at the Karns Community Center. You can check out the flyer right smack here.

On Saturday, Buchanan will participate in the 5^th Annual Run for the Schools. He said “feel free to come by and say ‘hi.’ It’s great to meet people supporting our schools in every way they can.”

Buchanan faces Terry Tamara Shepherd, Sandra Rowcliffe and Terry Hill in the non-partisan May primary. The top two vote-getters – provided no one gets 50 percent “plus one” – will move on to the August general election.

Send me your election stuff and I'll post it. Maybe. Heh.

Burchett says he's not longer accepting campaign contributions

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who will not face an opponent in his re-election bid, announced today on his Facebook page that he will not be accepting anymore contributions for this election.

The mayor said at this point he’s raised “just south of $40,000.”

Here’s his post: 

I am announcing today that, since I have no opposition in either the primary or general elections, I will no longer be accepting campaign contributions for my re-election race.

I am grateful to every person who has contributed to my campaign for re-election so far. Because of your generosity, I feel I now have the money I need for "Get Out the Vote" efforts and any volunteer appreciation activities.

I would much rather know that any money a supporter might have given me would instead be placed into an offering plate or used for a family's Saturday trip to Dollywood.

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me, and please know that even though I have no opposition, I will be working hard to encourage every Knox County voter to go to the polls.

Circuit Court clerk to make records available online by early next year

Remember how awhile back we broke the news that the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office has never bothered to draw down any of the coin from its $130,000 technology fund?

If you don’t, well, right smack here for the story.

Anyhoo, I was talking to Circuit Court Clerk Cathy Shanks (formerly Quist) and her right hand agent, Randy Kenner, about whether they’re using the money. (Circuit Court is kind of like the yin to Criminal Court’s yang.)

Here’s what I was told:

Last year the office kicked off the bidding process to get an electronic management system that would include an online component. Nine companies were interested and Databank IMX out of Monroe, Louisiana got the contract. (This was approved by the County Commission earlier this year.)

Overall, the plan is to use a scanning system that will allow “for the efficient electronic storage, retrieval and transmission of court records.”

The public, attorneys, media, etc. will then be able to access circuit, civil sessions and juvenile courts’ stuff online for a monthly fee, which will be used to keep the operation up and running. 

Randy told me the numbers but, quite frankly, I forgot. I do remember that he said they’d probably need about 100 clients to break even.

(Nashville has a similar program and it’s actually turned into its own revenue stream.)

Randy said officials hope to have enough content available early next year. At that point they’ll begin offering online access.

They’ll use the technology fund to get the operation going. The money comes from a $2 computer and technology fee that state law requires as part of the filing fee for new cases.

Wiser releases official candidate announcement for register of deeds

Donald Wiser is running as an independent against Knox County Register of Deeds Sherry Witt. He initially picked up a nominating petition to run for the sheriff's post as well. What follows is his official announcement that he is seeking Witt's post.

In it, I think he believes that there's some kind of conspiracy against him to run for sheriff. I'm not sure as the news release makes little sense (at least to me). However, as I've stated before, send me your election stuff and I'll post it.

The general election is set for August. Neither has an opponent in the May primary.

On a side note, Wiser talks about Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones and Witt seeking a third term in office, and says the law doesn't allow this.

No, not true. The voters recently amended the charter to define what a "term" is, and it doesn't include prior appointments. (JJ and Sherry each served roughly two years - as did Clerk Foster Arnett Jr - before winning their respective political races back in 2010.)

So, anyhoo, here ya go:

On 20 February 2014, I was forced to make a decision as to what course I was to travel in an endeavor to bring the honest and efficient government that the citizens of Knox County rightly deserve and to which they are entitled under the Constitutions of the United States, the State of Tennessee and the Knox County Charter.

But the road to the office of Knox County Sheriff is blocked with unconstitutional barriers that cry out for justice as surely as did the poll tax in times gone by.

A small county Peace Officer Standards and Training certified jailor with three years’ service and a GED qualifies as a candidate for sheriff.

The law requiring candidates for sheriff to be POST certifiedfor three of the last 10 years is an unconstitutional, incumbent-protection measure written to exclude qualified opponents. It denies my constitutional right to run for sheriff even though I am a career police officer, had 24 years of POST certification, and served as a POST commissioner.

I am an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Navy and hold a BS in criminal justice from East Tennessee State University and an M.S. plus 40 hours in Health and Safety Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I have also completed 2 years of law school at Nashville School of Law.

I have been a Criminal Justice instructor at Walters State Community College, an administrator at a treatment program at Mountain View Youth Development Center in Dandridge, have taken a course in FBI Instructor Development and attended the Tennessee Correctional Academy along with numerous related police schools and training for Drug and Alcohol Counseling.

But under this unconstitutional and downright unconscionable law, I am not qualified to be a candidate for sheriff.

In addition to my educational background, I have 6 years as a field auditor with the Trustee's Office and private sector experience in land management.

Unlike the incumbent sheriff and register of deeds, who hand out promotions based on the good ol’ boy system, I understand company needs and people needs and the need for accountability and transparency in government.

The Hutchison-Moore Machine conceived both Jimmy “JJ” Jones and Sherry Witt on Black Wednesday. They were appointed, then unappointed by the court, elected for a term, re-elected for a second term and are now running for the third time.

If my math serves me right this will be three terms, not the two that the law allows.

Just the facts ma'am: Was bogus BOE 'ethics violation' a political ploy?

Hoo-Haw, man they got some funny stuff going on over there on the school system’s side of county government. Heh.

So, get this: The Knox County Board of Education was set to meet on March 5 to talk about “allegations of a potential ethics violation and consideration of possible action and recommendations.”

The supposed violator? BOE member Mike McMillan.

The reason? For being transparent.

Hahahahahaha. Naw, I’m not kidding.

McMillian forwarded a PUBLIC RECORD to a newspaper reporter and a state representative.

Yet, South Knoxville parent Kristi Kristy (and by default BOE member and BOE Ethics Chairwoman Indya Kincannon) wanted to conduct kangaroo court.

However, on Friday the school system sent over a public notice that said the committee meeting “has been canceled due to the withdrawal of the complaint.”

Well wait a minute!

According to the News Sentinel, Kristi Kristy “decided not to file an official complaint.” (KNS story right here if you have money for a paywall.)

Huh? So was a complaint filed or not? And if one wasn’t filed, then why would Kincannon schedule the meeting?  That doesn’t make sense. Right?

Surely this wasn’t a political move against McMillan, the one BOE member who has not fallen in line with the rest of the board?  

Naw. No way!

Heh. Right. This whole thing stinks. The ethics committee isn’t supposed to even bother with these matters unless the chair receives a complaint that is “in writing and SIGNED UNDER OATH by the person making the complaint . . . .”

You can find the BOE’s Code of Ethics right smack here. 

However, the committee was going to go ahead and discuss it anyway. Without a sworn statement!

OK, so enough rambling. Let’s get to what was in that PUBLIC RECORD and what McMillan did and didn’t do.

Without further ado, it’s time for some Porch factoids:

FACT: On Dec. 6 at 3:11 p.m. Kristi Kristy sent District 9 BOE member Pam Trainor an email asking that it be sent to the Board and Superintendent Jim McIntyre. In the email, Kristy touted the good superintendent’s awesomeness and was upset that someone depicted him as Adolf Hitler in a now-viral YouTube video in which “McIntyre” raged about teacher concerns and expressed dismay that he might have to go back to teaching himself. You can find the video right here by the way.

FACT: Kristy wanted Trainor to redact her name from the email because she was concerned that teachers would like go over to her house and/or harass her, or some such nonsense.

FACT: At this point said email was NOT a public record (according to the county law department).

FACT: It BECAME a public record once Trainor forwarded it on – as requested by Kristy – to the school board members and once they received it.

FACT: Pam Trainor did NOT redact Kristy’s name.

FACT: Shopper reporter Betty Bean and State Rep. Gloria Johnson asked McMillian for a copy of that PUBLIC RECORD later in the day and he honored their OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

FACT: This whole thing is silly. If Kristy wants to be mad at someone, she should be mad at Trainor for not taking her name off the email.

FACT: These facts come from PUBLIC RECORDS. And NO, I didn’t get them from McMillan. Heh.

So, click right smack here for a set of documents that includes an email from Kincannon to Kristy that says the ethics committee will hold a hearing despite the fact that there was no signed-under-oath complaint; and two different emails from Kristy to BOE member Lynne Fugate – one that basically blames McMillan for all the world’s problems, and another that, just. . .  wow.

Further, for another set of bad boys, click right smack here for the original email that caused this whole mess AND a Jan. 10 letter from Knox County Law Director Richard “Bud” Armstrong telling Kristy that she doesn’t have a case! (Hey, I had to get the factoids from somewhere.)

Now, if the BOE really wants to look into a violation, then the board should address a potential solicitation violation committed by a certain political candidate it happens to support.

Circuit Court judicial candidate Lay to host meet-and-greet next week

Knox County Circuit Court Judge candidate Patti Jane Lay, who is running for the Division IV post, will host a meet-and-greet next Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Blackhorse Pub.

She noted that contributions are appreciated but not required. (And it’s business casual attire.)

The Blackhorse is located in the Western Plaza Shopping Center at 4429 Kingston Pike.

You can click right smack here for the invite and a list of names on her host committee.

Lay will face Greg McMillan in the May Republican primary. The winner moves on to the August general election and will face either Daniel Kidd or David Valone, who will compete on the Democratic ticket.

Williams says he won't opt out of Knox criminal court clerk's race

So, there’s a rumor that Knox County Criminal Court Clerk candidate and attorney Steve Williams will drop out of the race, especially after local prosecutor Jason Hunnicutt jumped in at the last minute.

Williams this afternoon told me that it’s not true and he’s in it to win.

He did, however, joke that he wished Hunnicutt had waited 45 minutes to turn in his petition. (He turned it in about 30 minutes before deadline.)

The race, which will be settled in the May Republican primary, will now feature Commissioner Mike Hammond, Williams and Hunnicutt. (Incumbent Joy McCroskey has pulled out.)

By the way, the deadline to drop out and not have your name on the ballot is noon Feb. 27.

Hunnicutt enters crim ct clerk race

Hunnicutt turned in his petition Thursday

Jason Hunnicutt, a prosecutor in the District Attorney General’s Office, picked up his petition to run for the criminal court clerk seat on Wednesday, and then returned it just 40 minutes before Thursday’s noon deadline.

“It happened so fast,” he said, referring to incumbent Joy McCroskey’s decision on Tuesday not to seek re-election and his plans to jump into the contest.

“I’ve worked with the criminal court cler’s office every day for 12 years and there’s some good people in there but there are some things that need changing,” he said.

Hunnicutt added that he will appoint a campaign treasurer next week and then start raising money.

He didn’t want to go into details Thursday but said the clerk’s office “needs better oversight and more training.”

He also said he’d like to “modernize” it, and noted that its computer systems could use an upgrade to keep track of fines.

Hunnicutt will face Commissioner Mike Hammond and local attorney Steve Williams in the May Republican primary. The general election is set for August, but no Democrats filed to run for the seat.

County qualifying deadline done: A comprehensive look at who is in

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett won’t face opposition in his bid for re-election.

The deadline to qualify to run for county offices was noon today and no one submitted the paperwork to challenge him. That means Burchett, a former a state senator and state representative, will automatically begin his second and final four-year term on Sept. 1, barring a major upset by a write-in candidate in August.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with me or the job I’m doing,” Burchett said. “I think it has to do with the good people who work for Knox County.”

Almost every county seat, with the exception of a handful of commission and school board posts, the law directors, and property assessor, are up for re-election this year.

The county primaries are set for May 6 with the general elections set for August 7.

In addition to the mayor, Circuit Court Clerk Cathy Shanks (formerly Kathy Quist), Public Defender Mark Stephens, and 10 judges won’t seek opposition. 

Further, no one challenged Charme Knight, a county prosecutor, for the district attorney general seat. Knight, a Republican, will replace long-time Democrat and DA Randy Nichols, who will retire at the end of the term.

 Knight, who has worked in the DA’s Office for 25 years, said the lack of an opponent will give her the chance to “hit the ground running.”

“What benefits the office is that I have six months to get ready instead of having to campaign, which is still something I’ll do but to a lesser degree,” she said.

Overall, there are 34 posts up for election including 16 judge and chancellor seats. 

         

MAJOR SEATS

Only one major candidate will have to make it through two races. The rest will more than likely be settled in the primaries.

Interim Trustee Craig Leuthold will take on fellow Republican and current county Commissioner Ed Shouse and Barry Hawkins, a former long-time Trustee’s Office employee, in the primary. The winner will face Democrat James Berrier in the primary.

Bobby Waggoner, a retired chief of detectives in the Sheriff’s Office, and Charles “Sam” Hammett Jr. will challenge Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones for his seat  in the Republican primary.

Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey on Tuesday said she’s not going to seek re-election.

That leaves County Commissioner Mike Hammond, local attorney Steve Williams and Jason

Hunnicutt, a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office to settle the race in the Republican primary.

Hunnicutt, a prosecutor in the District Attorney General’s Office, picked up his petition on Wednesday and then returned it just 40 minutes before the deadline.

“It happened so fast,” he said, referring to McCroskey’s decision not to run and his plans to jump into the contest.

“I’ve worked with the criminal court clerk’s office every day for 12 years and there’s some good people in there but there are some things that need changing,” he added.

In the county clerk’s race, incumbent Republican Foster Arnett Jr will face Democrat and former clerk Mike Padgett in the general election.

And in the register of deeds’ race, incumbent Republican Sherry Witt will face Donald Wiser, an independent, in August.

COUNTY COMMISSION

No Democrats qualified to run, so the four commission races will be settled in the Republican primary.

However, no one qualified to challenged Bob Thomas, a long-time radio personality, for the District 10 at-large post, so he’s pretty much in, barring an unusual victory from an August write-in candidate.

Ed Brantly, another local radio personality, will challenge former Commissioner Michele Carringer for the other at-large seat (District 11); and Bo Bennett, Charles Busler and Rodney Lane will vie for the District 7 post.

Randy Smith, who works in the county’s risk management department, will take on Jason Chandler and Billy Stephens in the District 3 race.

Commissioners Tony Norman (District 3) and R. Larry Smith (District 7) are term-limited.

SCHOOL BOARD

Five of the nine non-partisan Board of Education seats are up, but only one will more than likely be settled in the primary.

Incumbent Pam Trainor will face political newcomer Amber Rountree, a librarian at Halls Elementary, for the 9^th District seat, which represents South Knox County.

The District 7 race pits Patti Lou Bounds and Andrew Graybeal against R. Larry Smith, the current county commission vice chairman.

Incumbent Gloria Deathridge, the board’s current vice chairwoman, will face Marshall Walker and Robert Boyd  for her District 1 post.

Candidates need to get 50 percent “plus one” to outright win the primary and thus the election. If no one does, then the top two vote-getters in the race will advance to August.

In District 4, Sally Absher and Jeffrey Clark will challenge Lynne Fugate, the board’s current chairwoman.

The District 6 race features Brad Buchanan, Terry Hill, Sandra Rowcliffe and Tamara Shepherd.

Thomas Deakins (District 6) and Kim Severance (District 7) opted not to seek re-election.

JUDICIAL POSTS

The 16 judge races comprise almost half of the county seats that are up for election but only six are contested.

Attorneys Kristi Davis, Ray Jenkins and Billy Stokes will vie for the Division 1 circuit court judge post in the Republican primary. Incumbent Dale Workman will not seek re-election.

Harold Wimberly Jr, a Democrat and the incumbent Division 2 circuit court judge, will face Republican William “Bill” Ailor in the general election.

Patti Jane Lay and Greg McMillan will face off in the Republican primary for the Division 4 circuit court judge post with the winner going against, either Daniel Kidd, or David Valone, both Democrats running in the only contested county Democratic Primary, in the general election.

Incumbent Bill Swann opted not to run again.

Long-time Chancellor Daryl Fansler, a Democrat, will face Republican Clarence Pridemore in the general election.

Incumbent Patricia Long, a Republican, will square off against Democrat George Underwood Jr. for the Division 3 general sessions judge post.

County prosecutor Leland Price, who handled prosecutions in the trials connected to the torture-slayings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsome, will face Scott Green for the Division 3 criminal court judge seat. Green, a local attorney and former prosecutor, was appointed  to represent Letalvis Cobbins, one of the suspects, in the 2009 Christian-Newsome  trial.

Price is a Democrat and Green is a Republican.

Incumbent Mary Beth Leibowitz is retiring at the end of the term.

County qualifying deadline at noon

At this point, it looks like Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett won’t face opposition in his bid for re-election.

The deadline to qualify to run for county offices is noon today and so far no one has submitted the paperwork to challenge him. If nothing changes, then Burchett, a former a state senator and state representative, will automatically begin his second and final four-year term on Sept. 1, barring a major upset by a write-in candidate in August.

Almost every county seat, with the exception of a handful of commission and school board posts, the law directors, and property assessor, are up for re-election this year.

The county primaries are set for May 6 with the general elections set for August 7.

In addition to the mayor, Circuit Court Clerk Cathy Shanks (formerly Kathy Quist), Public Defender Mark Stephens, and 10 judges have no opposition at this point.

Further, no one has yet to challenge Charme Knight, a county prosecutor, for the district attorney general seat. So, Knight, a Republican, could end up replacing long-time Democrat and DA Randy Nichols, who will retire at the end of the term.

Overall, there are 34 posts up for election including 16 judge and chancellor seats.

McCroskey officially quits campaign

Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey has made it official: She will not run for re-election.

Course we already broke that news with da scoop yesterday, but anyhoo, she turned in a withdrawal notice to the Knox County Election Commission just now.

You can read it right smack here.

Now, oddly enough, if she had waited to turn it in tomorrow through noon next Thursday (the deadline to officially withdraw and not have your name on the ballot), then the county would have been required to extend the qualifying deadline another seven day due to anti-skullduggery law. (I’m not making this up.)

County prosecutor picks up petition to run for criminal ct clerk post

Jason Hunnicutt

Well, well, things might get interesting in the race for the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk’s seat.

Jason Hunnicutt, a prosecutor in the District Attorney General’s Office, picked up a nominating petition today to run for the post. This comes less than a day after incumbent (and embattled) clerk Joy McCroskey told her staffers thatshe would not seek re-election.

At this point Republicans Mike Hammond, a county commissioner, and Steve Williams, a local attorney, are running. Candidates have until noon tomorrow to turn in their petitions.

Hunnicutt, 40, has worked as an assistant district attorney for Knox County since 2002 with a one year intermission (2005-06) when he served as counsel to the Commissioner of Safety. He’s also worked as legislative counsel for the Tennessee General Assembly.

He received a degree in political science from the University of Tennessee and a law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys College of Law in 2000.

Anyhoo, you can find a lot of this stuff right smack here.

District Attorney General Randy Nichols has a policy that if any of his employees run for office against an incumbent then they have to take a leave of absence. Since McCroskey opted out of the race, Hunnicutt will be allowed to continue working in the office.

The county primary is set for May with a general election in August.

Some Twitter 'rules' for candidates

Cari Gervin has a hilarious primer on the etiquettes of using Twitter, particularly when running a campaign. And yes, a bunch of you need to learn how.

Click right smack here to read.

In the meantime, the mean one says:

• Don’t link to something on Facebook with no content.
• Don’t post Facebook status updates automatically to Twitter if they are more than 140 characters.
• Don’t retweet yourself. Seriously. It’s dumb. She explains why.           
• Don’t  retweet every person who mentions you!
• Do be consistent in you how you refer to yourself. Particularly lame is when you refer to yourself in the third person.
• Do understand how Twitter functions.

Anyhoo, those are Gerwin’s suggestions, but, really, you should read the piece. The examples – yes they’re real screenshots – alone are worth it.

By the way, there's some serious irony with Cari writing about what to do and not do on Twitter, but I digress.

Heh.

Hawkins responds to CTAS questions

Barry Hawkins (Photo by Dan Andrews)

Knox County Trustee candidate Barry Hawkins on Tuesday took exception to County Commissioner Dave Wright’s request to talk about an educational bonus he received while working in the Trustee's Office years ago, calling the discussion “a political witch hunt” and “backroom politics.”

All this of course ties into the $3,000 payments former Knox County Trustee John Duncan III gave himself and six other employees in December 2010. The payments were tied to the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Services, or CTAS. To get the money, you must be certified as a “public administrator.” None of the employees were.

Everyone except for Hawkins paid back the money. Actually, you know what? Click right smack here for the original background post.

Back to Tuesday’s commission meeting.

Wright asked the board whether it should do something, like ask Hawkins to pay back the money.

Law Director Richard “Bud” Armstrong said he wasn’t sure the commission could do anything, noting that Hawkins no longer worked in the office when the workers were initially asked to return the payments.

He suggested that it was up to the Trustee’s Office – not the commission – to address the matter.

Hawkins spoke briefly, saying Wright was “trying to intimidate a candidate and abusing the power of the commission to help a candidate and colleague.”

Commissioner Ed Shouse, and interim Trustee Craig Leuthold (both Republicans) and Democrat James Berrier are also vying for the job.

Hawkins, who worked in the office for 17 years, said that after he received the payment he questioned Duncan but was told it was “office policy and procedure.” He said he also asked his other superiors and was told the same thing. He added that his job was eliminated before he could finish the training.

“I have done nothing wrong and don’t appreciate any accusation otherwise,” he said

You can find Hawkins’ complete speech right smack here.

Wright denied that his discussion was politically motivated. He suggested that if it was then he would have called out Hawkins on some of “his campaign promises.”

“I could say that my feelings are hurt by what he said, but then I’m the seated commissioner and I have no feelings,” he added.

Burchett kickoff draws major crowd

I didn't get to make it (too busy getting the scoops!), but Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said roughly 600 people turned out to his re-election kickoff and fundraiser tonight.

The event was held at the Lighthouse Knoxville on Baum Drive. And, according to Randy over at Knoxviews, "it seemed like most of County Commission and every candidate for county office was there."

That doesn't surprise me as Burchett's host committee includes tons of major players. You can find that list by the way,  right smack here.

The deadline to qualify to run in the county elections is noon Thursday, and I seriously doubt Burchett, a Republican, will face opposition. The primary is set for May with the general election in August. The next four-year term starts Sept. 1

Click right smack here for Randy's report.

McCroskey won't run for re-election

Joy McCroskey

Embattled Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey has opted not to seek re-election, telling employees during a staff meeting Tuesday that she was withdrawing from the race.

Multiple sources confirm to 10News that McCroskey broke the news during a mandatory staff meeting Tuesday afternoon. She told her employees that she was withdrawing from the race. Her last day is Aug. 31 when her term ends.

The deadline to qualify to run for the criminal court clerk seat is noon Thursday. The primary is set for May with a general election set for August.

At this point, only McCroskey, Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond and local attorney Steve Williams have turned in nominating petitions to run. All three are Republicans.

McCroskey has until noon Feb. 27 to file a formal withdrawal with the Knox County Election Commission or her name will remain on the ballot.

You can read the entire story right smack here.

Sheriff remembers assistant chief who passed away Sunday; arrangements set

Roger Wilson

Funeral arrangements are now set for a Knox County Sheriff's Office assistant chief who died over the weekend.

Assistant Chief Roger Wilson passed away Sunday night. He was 55-years-old.

Wilson first started at the sheriff's office in 1992 as a control room clerk and worked his way up. He became assistant chief in 2008.

Sheriff  Jimmy "J.J." Jones says he talked to Wilson everyday and will miss him greatly. He says Wilson can't be replaced.

"He just had such a heart. He was very compassionate. And when you work in corrections and you work around people that sometimes are not pleasant, it's hard to maintain the ability to still care and feel compassion. And he did that always, always," says Sheriff Jones.

Wilson's family will receive friends Wednesday, February 19, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the funeral service immediately after at Marbledale Baptist Church. The church is located at 5935 Thorngrove Pike.

The procession will gather at Bridges Funeral Home on Rutledge Pike at noon Thursday. The graveside service will be at 1 p.m. at Highland South Cemetery in South Knoxville.

County raises coin for Love Kitchen

The county spin team is doing its best. The latest:

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, along with Senior Director of Parks and Recreation Doug Bataille, will deliver several barrels of canned-food donations and a check for more than $3,400 to The Love Kitchen on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.

The Love Kitchen is located in East Knoxville at 2418 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The donations were collected during December at the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Holiday Festival of Lights event.

The Love Kitchen provides meals, clothing and emergency food packages to the homebound, homeless and unemployed. For more information click right smack here.

Shepherd's kickoff set for Saturday

Tamara Shepherd

Knox County School Board candidate Tamara Shepherd, who is running for the District 6 seat, will host her campaign kickoff from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday at Cozy Joe's Cafe and Coffee Loft, located just off Hardin Valley.

She notes in her release that supporters "will gather in the loft for wine and hors d'oeuvres and hear from several Knox County School teachers."

Shepherd faces Brad Buchanan, Terry Hill and Sandra Rowcliffe in the May primary. The county's general election is set for August.

Rountree sets BOE campaign kickoff

Amber Rountree

Knox County School Board candidate Amber Rountree, who is running for the District 9 seat, officially announced her candidacy today (although she had already set up her website).

Rountree, a librarian at Halls Elementary, also said today that she will host her kickoff and first fundraiser on March 4 at the Roundup from 5:30-7:30 p.m. You can find the complete release right smack here.

Rountree is challenging incumbent Pam Trainor in the May non-partisan primary. (A general election if needed will be held in August.) District 9 comprises South Knoxville.

As always, if you’re running for office, shoot stuff my way and I’ll post it. The deadline to qualify for county races is noon Thursday.