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Daily Dose for November 12, 2007
Brock v. Berke Wraps Up Thursday
Brock v. Berke Wraps Up Thursday -- The special election in State Senate District 10, the most important off-season election in recent history will take place on Thursday. The race will determine the makeup of the State Senate. If Brock wins, Republicans will take control of the chamber. If Berke wins, the Democrats and Republicans will be evenly split, with one Indy Sen. Mike Williams. Turnout was light in early voting, which ended on Saturday. There were 3,347 ballots cast in Hamilton County and 970 in Marion County. Both parties have brought out big names to help their respective party candidates, including Gov. Bredesen and former Sen. candidate Harold Ford, Jr for the Dems and both Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker for the GOP along with Brock's dad, former Sen. Bill Brock. Tom Humphrey has a recap on some of the recent going-ons in the race and the Times Free Press has the fundraising totals.
Sundquist Back on the Speaking Circuit? -- Former GOP Gov. Don Sundquist will speak tonight to the West Knox Republican Club in Knoxville, the first speech in the Knoxville area since Sundquist left office in 2003, according to Georgiana Vines. Sundquist is set to speak on the strength of the state GOP, a party which he still in many ways remains estranged from after he used his second term to push for a state income tax. Sundquist lives in East TN, but has had limited speaking engagements there, with only a few speeches across the state, mainly in Memphis and Nashville, since leaving office. Sundquist may be getting back in the good graces of the party and thus get back on the speaking circuit - he recently was listed on a list of prominent endorsements for Fred Thompson's Presidential run.
Local Officials About 50-50 on Open Meeting Law Changes -- Local officials are split on whether the state should change its local meeting laws to be less restrictive of communication between local elected officials in private. In Chattanooga, Joe Lance looks at the difference of opinion between Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefiled - who opposes the change - and Hamilton Co. Mayor Claude Ramsey who says the change makes "it easier to do business." In Clarksville, Montgomery Co. Mayor Carolyn Bowers seems to favor the change saying, "(Commissioners) feel like they can't come talk to me because they might be violating the Sunshine Law or ask a question about a resolution because they feel like they're in violation," while Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper says, "I don't know if it's necessary. I have not had any problems with the Sunshine Law now." Of course, Bower's interpretation is a misnomer, because the Sunshine Law doesn't apply to communication between different branches of local government, such as the County Mayor's office and the County Commission.
Knox Co. Still A Mess -- With a Knox Co. Chancery Court throwing out eight County Commissioners, the Knox Co. Commission has a new make-up - one that politically isn't as opposed to Knox Co. Mayor Mike Ragsdale as it once was. But even as new of the commissions make-up makes the headlines, the KNS runs headlines right next to those that point to further problems with the Mayor's office P-Card program, which has been used apparently by top Ragsdale staff to fund trips. Previously, the County Commission had considered subpoenas of top Ragsdale officials to testify concerning travel purchases on the county dime, but now commissioners agree those items will have to go to the back burner, because at least one district - District 4 - doesn't even have a Commissioner on the body, because both were thrown out.
Memphis Passes Recall Option -- The Memphis City Council approved a provision that would allow voters to decide in 2008 whether or not to give themselves the power to recall City Councilmen - the same power they currently have for the Memphis Mayor. But the referendum, authorizes a recall only after council members have served two years of their four-year term. Memphis City Council chairman Tom Marshall says the bill needs amendment to take out that provision because the whole point of the legislation is give the people power to remove Councilmen wrought with ethical violations.
