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March 2008

DeFreese Says No to Mayor's Request

Submitted by Gene Patterson on March 31, 2008 - 11:05pm

Why is Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale demanding that 9th District Commissioner Victoria DeFreese turn over correspondences, e-mails and phone logs from constituents who've complained to her, regarding the Mayor's P-Card Audit response?

In requesting the material, the Mayor - though his spokesman Dwight Van DeVate - cited the Tennessee Open Records Act, to suggest that she has no choice in the matter.

This material could be subject to public disclosure through the Act, though Frank Gibson of the Tennessee Coalitio

McIntyre Named Superintendent

Submitted by Gene Patterson on March 24, 2008 - 11:11pm

Congratulations to James McIntyre on his selection as Knox County's next School Superintendent. He accepted the position this evening after a 5-4 vote by the Knox County School Board.

Yet to be worked out, are the details of his contract. He will make in the range of $240,000 a year.

Public Forum on Charter Changes

Submitted by Gene Patterson on March 12, 2008 - 8:26pm

The battle over changes to the Knox County Charter is heating up.

Last night at a forum at South Doyle High School -- hosted by Commissioners Victoria Defreese and Paul Pinkston - about a 100 folks showed up to learn about the proposed changes. They also heard criticism of the motivations of those who are pushing the changes.

That group - KnoxCharterPetition.com - is the offspring of Knox County One Question - an organization formed in the Spring of 2007.

A Gathering of Friends

Submitted by Gene Patterson on March 12, 2008 - 3:49am

I had the pleasure of having dinner with some old friends the other night. The occasion was a visit from former Knoxville Mayor, Victor Ashe, who is now Ambassador to Poland. He was in town to take part in Tuesday's unveiling of mayoral portraits at the City-County Building.

Victor had gathered a few of his former directors together for a bite to eat at Calhoun's on the River.

Hiwassee Receives Grant for Dental Program

Submitted by Gene Patterson on March 7, 2008 - 11:25pm

Federal earmarks get a bad rap. And often for good reasons.

Everyone knows about Alaska's "bridge to nowhere", a project that hoped to connect the town of Ketchikan (population 8900) to the airport in Gravina (population 50) at a price tag of 320 million dollars.

It became a national symbol of out of control, irresponsible, pork barrel spending. Fortunately, the outrage over the project was enough to kill it.

Padgett's Got Grit

Submitted by Gene Patterson on March 4, 2008 - 10:41pm

You've got to give Democrat Mike Padgett extra points for grit.

The former Knox County Clerk officially announcing his intention today, to seek the United States Senate seat now held by Lamar Alexander.

“I have been working vigorously over the past few weeks building a team that will include people from all parts of the state of Tennessee,” he said at his news conference.

Padgett, who has never run a political race outside of Knox County, faces (if he wins his primary) one of the most formidable political figures in Tennessee history.

Lamar Alexander has - "been there a