More qualify for March elections

Marleen Davis

First, here's an updated list (as of Monday) to see who has picked up a qualifying petition to run for county/school office. Right HERE.

Second, as expected Jim Weaver, who is currently property assessor Phil Ballard's right hand man is in, as is former assessor John Whitehead (who gave Ballard a heck of a run last time around) and Andrew Graybeal.

If all three actually run, Graybeal presents a wild card. A Weaver v. Whitehead race would be interesting because Weaver is essentially running as Ballard 2.0 but without the overall name recognition. Whitehead - like him or not - is well known.

Third, Law Director Bud Armstrong has some competition. This is a guy who beat an incumbent and has a strong base support. Nathan Rowell will have his work cut out for him.

Fourth, I got a release from a Democrat (not a lot of them in this neck of the woods willing to run) who is interested in the 4th District Commission seat, currently held by Republican Jeff Ownby, who has his own work cut out for him in the March primary.

Here ya go:

Marleen Kay Davis has announced that she will enter the 2016 Democratic Primary seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the District Four seat on the Knox County Commission. 

Davis is known in Knoxville primarily for her work related to downtown issues and development.  She is currently a member of the Downtown Knoxville Design and Review Board as well as a board member of the East Tennessee Community Design Center. She had previously been a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Theater Foundation and a Co-chair of the Downtown Knoxville Task Force from “Nine Counties, One Vision. ” She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

Davis states, “As a career educator and as an architect, I understand the importance of our neighborhoods, schools, commercial districts, and parks in creating a great quality of life, which also improves the economic well-being of the county. “ 

Davis is currently the ASCA Distinguished Professor in the College of Architecture and Design at the University of Tennessee. She formerly served as dean of the college from 1994 – 2003.  At the time she was named dean, she was the fourth woman ever appointed dean in a college of architecture. This past spring, she received the college’s Patrick Lawson Teaching Award, as determined by student organizations.

Davis also states, “I look forward to learning more about constituents’ views on these issues, and I look forward to finding common ground in preserving and advancing the quality of life in Knox County.”

As always, send me your political stuff for publication consideration.