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What Next for Knox County?

Submitted by Gene Patterson on June 9, 2006 - 11:55pm

Chancellor John Weaver's ruling that Knox County's Charter is invalid because it is "ineffective" and "incomplete" puts - at least for now - an end to term limits talk in Knox County.

The opinion may still be appealed and if that happens it's not certain how a higher court might rule. But for now, those county commissioners who appeared to be term limited will be on the ballot come August 3.

The big question now is, should the Charter process start again? And if so, should term limits be part of it?

It's probably not a stretch to suggest that those who voted for both the Charter in 1988 and for term limits in 1994 are not happy about the "will of the people" being thwarted by some major technicalities.

Voters should ask some tough questions about who's responsible for this debacle? Only by a thorough review of - what turned out to be - the flawed process can we learn how to do it properly.

Knox County citizens should expect at least a minimum level of competence from their officials and - for that matter - from its media.

As news organizations, we all failed to follow the trail and as a result, the public was poorly served. If the process begins again, I don't think media will make the same mistake.

I hope neither will the politicians.

Comments

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Comments

Great news, can we now can

Submitted by Ronald Curtis Parham (not verified) on June 10, 2006 - 1:52am.

Great news, can we now can the TH and make WANDA the top cop?

Can someone answer something

Submitted by Dwight Patton (not verified) on June 13, 2006 - 8:09pm.

Can someone answer something for me? "

Lord no they can't!
Now try an easier question, like if the charter were to fall in the woods and there were no living person around would the bear taking his morning constitutional be able to reach it to clean his rear end?

Can someone answer something

Submitted by Voter (not verified) on June 13, 2006 - 5:21pm.

Can someone answer something for me? I think this is a valid point. Only laws passed by referendum are subject to invalidity to the charter. Because it was voted on by the people of Knox County, the wheel tax is not going to be refunded to everyone who paid it. Well, was term limits not voted on also? Which means since it was not a referendum that it should still be a valid like the wheel tax.