Craig Leuthold is the most qualified. He has the most experience.

This manufactured issue about the Sunshine Law was ridiculous. Newly elected Knox County Law Director Bill Lockett will be on "Tennessee this Week" with Gene Patterson and he will tell Knox County voters that the Sunshine Law will be interpreted much differently than it is currently under John Owings term.

Owings is using the Sunshine Law to punish County Commission for what he feels is the reason he lost his election. He blames Commission for that loss and wants pay back. Leuthold reportedly asked Owings about contacting the Commissioners and Owings said it was fine only to later question if that was correct. Yeah, right. The only thing Leuthold did wrong was to trust Owings.

It gets down to Leuthold or Hammond. Does Hammond even qualify to server on County Commission if he lives in the 9th District?

Rachel, what's your take? 180 degrees opposite? Do you like Hallerin and Phil's boss better?

Tank has done a great job in what was a very difficult time.

He's a friend & from the district I live in.

But when you look @ the job he's done I know you will agree.

Tank is the best choice for Chair.

Perhaps Scooby has learned his lesson. Maybe he hasn't.

Dr. Briggs seems to have a very firm grip on reality and should be capable on imparting that upon the body as a whole.

I say anybody that does not have a tax payer funded "real job", so that eliminates.

Tank Strickland - Knoxville Mayor's office
Mark Harmon - University of Tennessee
Ivan Harom - City of Knoxville
Craig Leuthold - Supervisor Knox Co. Trustee's office
New guy Brad Anders - Knoxville Police Department.

That leaves us with

Sam McKenzie
Amy Broyles
Tony Norman
Finbarr Saunders
Ed Shouse
Mike Hammond
Richard Briggs
Greg Lambert
R. Larry Smith
Scott Moore
David Wright
________________Phil Ballard's replacement
Mike Brown
Paul Pinkston

Plenty of choices.

Tony Norman or Briggs

Give Strickland a full term. He's done a good job. -- s.

I was visiting with friends last Sunday, one of whom is a UT prof. She was discussing how many people don't recognize her work as real. I've taught, not as a full tenure-track prof, but as a college adjunct, a community college adjunct and a full-time high school teacher. It's the hardest work I've ever done. Real job for real.

Of course, most of my work was in newspapers or public relations so maybe that's not a real job either -- you try not laughing outloud when some of those Arkansas legislators are in the midst of floor debates. Hard work, I'm telling you.

All I can say is that it shouldn't be Lumpy or Scooby. I'd probably lean toward keeping Tank b/c he keeps them from embarrassing themselves too much. However, those commission meetings are still too long.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

Your 'real job' comment is beyond ridiculous and, to be honest, cuts out a heckuva lot of smart folks considering how many people work for the government around these parts.

A 25 yr McDonalds drive-thru veteran gets the job while the Ion Beam researcher at Y12 is ignored ?

Do you think before you write this stuff or is your main purpose to just aggravate. Email me offline and let me know 'cause I am curious.

It seems to me that Tank has done about as well as anyone could in an almost impossible job. Can't imagine why he wants the job, but if so, I think he's earned it.

I suspect Dr. Briggs would run a very efficient meeting, but Commission usually elects a chair who's been on Commission longer.

For amusement value, my vote would go to Paul Pinkston.

I thought Tank would make a good choice as well. I did read that he was having a serious surgery. Should we be concerned by that? If he is putting his name in the hat, I can only assume that his Doctor and family have discussed it.

What forum is there for public input on this topic or do commissioners just see this as something they "approve"?

Is it true that there is a move underway to purge you from the Republican party?

I guess there are "official" purges and "unofficial purges".

Now, what side is it you're on again?

of the "real" Republicans. Not the johnny come lately's or RINO's. The majority that opposes the likes of giving the County Mayor appointment authority and removing our right to vote on elective officials.

The majority that doesn't buy the crappy Sentinel, and throws the Slopper in the trash. The majority that refuses to be inlfuenced by ole' Georgianna Vines, Jack McElroy, Sandra Clark and crew.

Thanks for asking, though.

The new chair should be someone who was not involved in Black wednesday or a violator of the sunhine law. Craig Leuthold was involved in both.

When the story broke about Josh Jordan's past drug dealing, I called Craig to ask why he had voted for Jordan. He said he was "totally unaware" of Jordan's past (B.S.!). This is the man that claimed he carefuly vetted potential commission appointees?

Tank has not been a good Chairman. I supported him in the beginning. Until he cut off debate. He also cut off citizens at the podium. He has done a poor job.

He failed time after time with proper procedure and Robert's Rules. Many times Craig Leuthold and other Senior Commissioners had to correct Tank on proper procedure.

Tank is not well. He has a serious medical condition. Is that the reason for the confusion? I don't know. But he has made too many mistakes. I understand how people might see him as neutral. But that supposed neutrality is suspect.

Sunshine law?

What about all this talk about "Bud" Armstrong being appointed by the new commission to take Ballards commission seat.

What a bunch of crap.....Ballard should resign and let the good folks of the 8th district, one of the largest districts in sq. miles elect a new commissioner in November. Is the GOP afraid of the Dems in the 8th. I doubt it. The GOPers just want to hand pick someone. Here comes the new puppet.

My understanding is that the attorney general has opined that parties can't nominate until an actual vacancy exists ... and that won't happen until (pick one)

The newly elected property assessor (Ballard) and Criminal Court Judge (McGee) are:

1. Elected

2. Certified

3. Sworn In

Bill Lockett said on WATE today that he plans to be sworn in on Aug. 29 -- others have said Sept. 2. At some point, we are past the deadline to qualify for the Nov. ballot. I have now said more than I know. -- s.

...either Briggs, McKenzie or 8-B Commissioner David Wright would, in my view, make excellent commission chairs. Problem is, I don't think any one of them is crazy enough to take the job.

I have to agree with Emge in that it shouldn't be a Black Wednesday participant. It probably will be anyway, but there's certainly enough in the newcomer talent pool to come away with a solid chair.

If honor is required for this commission chair, I am afraid we in the 8th district have no one with honor representing us. I know for a fact Mr. Dave Wright lacked honor when he lied numerous times on his opponent and tolerated dirty tricks by his supporters. Mr. Jack McElroy knows this as well but decided to overlook his unethical behavior because KNS endorsed Wright. How can we have a true and honest representation in government when our representative conducted himself in an unethical and dishonorable way during his election?