Tyree for Sheriff?

I must admit I was a bit surprised when I read the Knoxville News Sentinel this morning and found that Randy Tyree was planning a run for sheriff. I've known Randy for a number of years, first covering him during his second term as Mayor of Knoxville and later as a candidate for Governor.

He's always been cordial and accessible to me. I think he's a class act. But I have to question his reasons for running.

He certainly has a background in law enforcement, but it's been a long time since Operation Aquarius, the Cumberland Avenue Drug round up of the early 70's. Tyree planned and implemented that operation, and it helped him win the Mayor's office.

But that was a long time ago, and now he has to convince the public that he's still current on law enforcement techniques, that he has the energy to implement new intiatives and has the desire to run the often complicated Sheriff's office.

In the Sentinel article, Tyree talks about "rebuilding bridges with other agencies," certainly in years past, there has been unhappiness with Sheriff Hutchison and his seeming inability to get along with others. His turf battles with now former police chief Phil Keith are legendary. His fight with County Commissioner Wanda Moody and attorney Herb Moncier weren't too far behind. The sheriff scrapped often with local tv and newspapers too. But those grumblings aren't around this year.

The sheriff appears to be getting along with new Police Chief Sterling Owen and even KPD rank and file say there's been a positive change between the two agencies.

So the big question, does Randy Tyree really want to be sheriff, does he have the "fire in the belly" he's talked about in the past, or does he really just like the idea of running for sheriff? It will be an uphill battle for him either way.