Broyles: Let workers speak for, against elected county officials

Commissioner Amy Broyles

Local leaders will look into a proposal that protects Knox County government employees from workplace retaliation that could potentially result from any public statements they might make about elected or appointed county officials.

The plan, spearheaded by Knox County Commissioner Amy Broyles, comes as election season gears up and in the wake of outspoken comments made recently by teachers about how the school system operates and its top management.

The commission is expected to officially address the matter during its Feb. 18 work session.

“During election season we always hear stories about someone who wanted to campaign for so-and-so but they were afraid because they didn’t want their boss to find out and fire them,” Broyles said. “There’s a lot of contested races and I want all the county employees to know that they can campaign for whoever they want to.”

Almost every county seat, including posts on the school board, commission and some of the major positions, like mayor, sheriff and district attorney, are up for election this year. The county primaries are set for May with and the general elections in August.

Broyles said she’s also talked to teachers who have told her that “they’re afraid to speak out because they’re afraid of bad evaluations, or being fired or transferred, so I wanted to make sure they knew that they’re being heard.”

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