Fri
Apr 21 2006
07:53 am
Knox-less County election and lawsuit updates
By: R. Neal

Michael Silence files this report on preparations for counting mountains of paper ballots on election day. As always, Greg Mackay seems to have everything under control.

Scott Barker files this report on what could happen if Knox County is ruled invalid. He says "anarchists should douse their torches and put away their pitchforks," because Knox County would go on.

There is some question, though, about local ordinances passed under what could be an invalid county charter. The five county commissioners who are term limited under the existing charter filed suit to have the charter thrown out. But, according to the article they say they still want local ordinances passed under the charter to remain in effect.

Except, presumably, term-limit provisions, although the article quotes one commissioner, Phil Guthe, as saying he would keep the term-limits provisions in any new charter because "that's what the people want."

Curiouser and curiouser...

Question: wouldn't it be easier to just "fix" whatever deficiencies there are in the current charter? (Or, the "compromised" portions, as Chancellor John Weaver characterized it?)

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Number9's picture

take advantage of this situation to write a NEW Charter

Submitted by Number9 on Fri, 2006/04/21 - 8:45am.

Question: wouldn't it be easier to just "fix" whatever deficiencies there are in the current charter? (Or, the "compromised" portions, as Chancellor John Weaver characterized it?)

Good question. IF there is a problem with the Charter it would be smarter and better to fix that specific problem unless you wanted to take advantage of this situation to write a NEW Charter to consolidate power and dispose of political adversaries like the Sheriff.

Scott Barker's part about anarchists is humorous. The anarchists are not the private citizens who ask questions about our elected leaders, the anarchists are the elected leaders who are trying to subvert the political system to obtain more power.

Remember when people asked who we "should take back the government" from? Now you know. Take it back from the anarchists. The ineligible incumbents who refuse to obey the law.

Rachel's picture

My guess is that Guthe means

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2006/04/21 - 11:53am.

My guess is that Guthe means keep term limits but start the clock running now - so that he can serve 2 more terms.

This entire thing is not only confusing, it's starting to make us look really dumb. I'm waiting for us to become a Keith Olbermann "Oddball" feature at any moment. Or, God help us, a Daily Show interview. Can't you just picture Guthe or Diane Jordan trying to handle THAT.....

cafkia's picture

Indeed

Submitted by cafkia on Sat, 2006/04/22 - 10:14am.

In my ideal scenario, the judge declares the Knox Co. charter invalid therefore, Knox Co. government as an entity does not exist.  The Knoxville City Council calls an emergency session and annexes out to the county line.  Voila! instant metro government.  As a bonus, since it would be the result of the county gov committing suicide, there would be no impetus to preserve the political favor system that determines so much of the employment in the county system.  Obviously, provisions would have to be made immediately to expand council to include temporary representatives from those areas currently outside the city limits so as to stave off accusations of taxation without representation.  Also, a special election would have to be discussed.  

 Overall, it could be a good thing.  As a matter of fact, my scenario might just be the best thing.

CAFKIA 

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It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

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