February 2008

The Audit

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 29, 2008 - 1:31am

The draft audit of the Knox County Mayor's office is on our website here.

The document details nearly five years of p-card spending, from October 2002 to May 2007, by Mayor Mike Ragsdale and his staff.

In all, the auditor found about $40,000 in questionable spending by the Mayor, Chief-of-Staff Mike Arms, Communications Director Dwight Van de Vate, former Finance Director John Werner, former assistant Margie Loyd, former Community Services Director Cynthia Finch and former assistant Req

An Expression of Democracy

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 21, 2008 - 3:28am

I wish I could take credit for the title, but it was spoken during Wednesday's Commission meeting by nominee Martin Pleasant. Despite being on the losing end of a vote, Pleasant was complimentary of the process that brought about his defeat.

And so were many others. Wednesday's appointments process was the polar opposite of last year's "Black Wednesday" vote.

Acting Chairman Tank Strickland gets much of the credit. His no-nonsense, keep on message approach worked well.

Saroff's Decision

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 20, 2008 - 4:43am

Today, KCDC said no to Mark Saroff and his request for a 90 day extension on a redevelopment plan for his McClung Warehouse properties.

Saroff was given a February 13 deadline to submit a proposal for the properties on Jackson Avenue, but because he failed to deliver, the door is now open to others to develop the properties.

RFPs should be going out shortly, with the expectation that it would take developers until the first part of May to submit their plans.

All is not lost for Saroff.

Ron McMahan

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 19, 2008 - 10:01pm

Ron McMahan died Tuesday in Naples, Florida of cancer. I haven't seen Ron in a number of years, but I remember him fondly.

I got to know him in the early 90's, on a political show I moderated over at WBIR. He had been on WATE's "Political Roundtable," but we somehow convinced him to come over and help us start a new program.

He was one of the original panel members of the Insiders' Journal team (now Inside Tennessee).

Saroff Asks For Extension

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 14, 2008 - 10:23pm

The folks at KCDC have a decision to make regarding Mark Saroff and his properties on Jackson Avenue.

Wednesday was the deadline for Saroff to file a development plan for his McClung Warehouse properties or risk having them taken from him.

But instead of a plan, Saroff - through attorney John Lucas - sent a letter, asking for a 90 day extension.

In his letter, Lucas says Saroff is "presently working with his attorneys, architects, construction engineers, and others to complete a development plan.."

In requesting the extension, Lucas questions the "artificially short ti

Why Did We Wait?

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 12, 2008 - 4:22am

Tonight's candidates' forum makes you wonder why we waited until after the February 5th primary to fill Knox County's 12 vacant county seats.

When Commissioners said they would make their appointments after hearing from voters, many assumed candidates getting the most votes in the primary would get the appointments.

The problem with that scenario, as it turns out, is most of the winners don't want the appointments.

Campaign Spending and Votes

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 6, 2008 - 10:00pm

Some interesting numbers emerged in the wake of Tuesday's primary regarding campaign spending. It turns out that big spending didn't necessarily mean big voting numbers.

Amy Henley Vandergriff - who surprised everyone in defeating fellow Democrat George Stooksbury in the Clerk's race - spent just $121 in her race and collected (unofficially) 17,453 votes. If you divide that out, that's less than a penny a vote.

The Republican winner in the Clerk's race, Foster Arnett, by comparison, spent more than $47,000 and got 26,346 votes.

Campaign Spending

Submitted by Gene Patterson on February 5, 2008 - 2:24am

Candidate Financial disclosures so far, show spending by Knox County candidates for media leading up to tomorrow's February 5 primary totaled nearly $200,000. Radio and TV made up only about a fourth of the spending.

Several radio stations groups shared more than $22,000. WNOX receiving most of it.
TV picked up just under $24,000 from the candidates. Comcast Cable getting nearly half of the total.

Print publications got nearly $50,000. The Knoxville News Sentinel and The Halls News Shopper split about $30,000.

While most of the candidates spent their media money directly.