The World According to Oatney

Today's the day in Knox County

This morning is the morning that the Knox County Commission will replace eight term-limited Commissioners, as well as the County Clerk, County Trustee, County Sheriff, and Register of Deeds. All of these positions are normally chosen by the voters, but will instead be filled by the Knox County Commission.

This crisis is not a recent development, but began last March when the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld a term limits amendment to the Shelby County Charter as constitutional. As the only other county in Tennessee with a Charter form of government, the ruling also applied to Knox County. Five of the term-limited county commissioners sued to have the Knox County Charter declared invalid. Chancellor John Weaver did so, but the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned Weaver's decision, leaving both the County Charter and term limits in place.

For those who don't know the whole story, you can follow my blog beginning March 29, 2006, You'll get the lowdown on the whole situation as well as my short-lived candidacy, which I suspended in order to move to Jefferson County.

Labels: Local politics

posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 8:22 AM