Former Knox County Commissioner Madeline Rogero recalls a controversy surrounding a School Board vacancy several years ago.

Being new on the County Commission, Rogero was surprised that a presumed nominee was selected to fill the vacancy without consulting commissioners in the district. She notes "backroom politicking was in full swing."

She mobilized residents in her district and organized a public forum which was widely attended and got significant media coverage. As a result, Dr. Paul Kelly emerged as the only nominee, and was appointed with the unanimous support of the community and County Commission.

Madeline Rogero concludes: "I respect my fellow commissioners who, fifteen years ago, listened to the will of the voters. They had the authority to make an arbitrary, expedient, political appointment. They chose instead to open the process, participate in our forum, listen to the potential candidates, and then pick the best qualified. Should we not expect the same of our county commission today?"

Read her full account after the jump...

The case for community forums prior to political appointments
Madeline A. Rogero

Here is my recollection of the 1991 precedent-setting community forum held prior to Knox County Commission’s appointment of a school board member. I share it in the hopes that it might inform the current appointment process.

Exactly fifteen years ago this month, Knox County Commission participated in an unprecedented community forum prior to the appointment of an open seat for Knox County School Board. District 2 School board member Harry Tindell had won a race for state representative and announced that he would vacate his school board seat. I was a rookie on county commission, having just been elected to a District 2 seat the previous September.

Rumors quickly began circulating that a former commissioner, who had recently been defeated in his re-election bid, had the votes to be appointed. This was a surprise to me as I had not been consulted nor had any of my constituents in District 2. Backroom politicking was in full swing.

Though the presumed nominee lived in the 2nd school board district, he had represented the 3rd district on commission and was not well-known among district 2 voters nor well-versed on our school problems. Our schools had many serious issues such as dilapidated facilities, curriculum deficiencies, and we were in the midst of desegregation planning under the orders of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. We clearly needed a school board member who understood our concerns and the challenges facing our district.

I began talking with District 2 residents and organizations and found that they were in agreement that a community forum should be held before an appointment was made. We formed a coalition of 11 PTAs and school groups, 6 neighborhood organizations, and the Knox County Education Association. We worked together to build support in the community and media for a public forum that would allow District 2 residents and County Commissioners a chance to meet and hear from individuals who sought the appointment. We encouraged potential nominees to step forward and participate in the public forum. We were well aware that county commission would make the appointment – and that we might not change the outcome – but we insisted that the community had a right to this process prior to the appointment.

“That’s not the way it’s done,” one commissioner was quoted as saying. “We’ll teach her a lesson.” I thought they probably would teach this rookie a lesson but it was a lesson I was willing to learn, as were the other coalition members.

Not only did the coalition members invite all commissioners to the forum, but we also called citizens in other districts and asked them to encourage their own county commissioners to attend. Both daily newspapers endorsed the community forum and we received significant media coverage.

On the night of the forum, January 28, 1991, over 170 people attended, and 17 of the 19 commissioners.

The League of Women Voters moderated the event and four candidates (including the presumed nominee) responded to questions and presented their views on education. Imagine the excitement in the room knowing that, for the first time in the history of Knox County politics, county commissioners participated in an open, well-attended, professionally moderated community forum to vet potential nominees before an appointment was made.

Following the community forum, two of the “community” candidates withdrew and threw their support behind the third “community” candidate. District 2 voters called commissioners and attended the commission meeting united in support of our own candidate. When it came time to vote, only one candidate was nominated and received unanimous commission support -- the community’s choice, Dr. Paul Kelley. Dr. Kelley served our school district and Knox County with distinction for 13 years; winning three elections before he chose to not seek re-election in 2004.

I respect my fellow commissioners who, fifteen years ago, listened to the will of the voters. They had the authority to make an arbitrary, expedient, political appointment. They chose instead to open the process, participate in our forum, listen to the potential candidates, and then pick the best qualified. Should we not expect the same of our county commission today?