September 14, 2006 Meeting: Stacey Campfield and Parky Strader

Please join us on Sept. 14th at the Gondolier to hear about TN Representative Stacey Campfield's and Parky Strader's re-election campaigns. Gondolier / Dinner at 6:30 / Meeting at 7:30


STACEY CAMPFIELD
R - Knoxville
District 18 - Part of Knox County

PARK (PARKEY) M. STRADER
R - Knoxville
District 14 - Part of Knox County


The Tennessee General Assembly

August 10, 2006 Meeting: Thomas Deakins - 6th District School Board Member (elect)

Thomas Deakins During the Campaign

Thomas Deakins Celebrating via Mike Long

Thomas Deakins will be speaking at the August 10th meeting at the Gondolier at 7:30 PM. The 6th District School Board - Elect will be reviewing the Hardin Valley High School project.

UPDATE:

From the Farragut Press 8/17/06 edition:

Deakins guest at Farragut Republican Club meeting
Jerry Dean - Thu, Aug, 17, 2006

One obvious consensus emerged from a recent Concord Farragut Republican Club meeting: Even among that group’s well-informed, politically-savvy and community-conscious members, confusion still reigns supreme on issues surrounding the planned $50 million Hardin Valley High School.

Officials hope, that long-awaited facility, by 2008, will ease classroom crowding at other West Knox public schools.

Thomas A. Deakins, 35, of Farragut, the Knox County School Board’s newly-elected District 6 representative, told fellow Republicans he faces a steep learning curve on understanding high school financing and similar complex board issues.

But the father of four, a solutions designer for Oracle computers, promised hard work to comprehend and help resolve district problems — chiefly, classroom crowding evident at Farragut, Bearden and Karns high schools.

“It may be bad timing, bad luck — or just bad karma,” Deakins said. But funding is [$6 million] short to open and equip the new school whose completion was planned for 2007.

“We have some issues,” said Deakins (pictured above at left speaking with Bill Johns and Karen Carson, School Board District 5 representative), soon to represent Farragut, Ball Camp, Hardin Valley and Solway communities on the board. Rising projected construction costs for the school, he said, had been blamed on factors ranging from Hurricane Katrina recovery to surging fuel prices and Chinese demand for construction materials.

Couple those with 2005 site selection delays and uncertainty about zoning for a new school’s pupils, Deakins said, and a complex picture emerges.

Among those attending the meeting at the Gondolier Restaurant were Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond, Commissioner-elect Greg “Lumpy” Lambert, Knox County General Sessions Court Judge Andrew “Andy” Jackson VI and Carson.

Deakins thanked the group for recent campaign support and said he wants weekly status updates from Public Building Authority project managers on progress toward the high school for which ground was broken earlier in 2006. School completion, he said, remains essential to ease crowding and “make public education the best it can be.”

Deakins, with two children in Farragut Primary School, promised to “be in the schools, talking with parents and teachers to understand all the issues first-hand.” But he called Hardin Valley High “the big issue” as West Knox’s first new high school in 25 years.

Johns, club vice president, told Deakins and Carson school problems surfaced “because your predecessors dropped the ball in planning thirty years ago.” West Knox growth was evident, Johns said; but previous board members did little planning in response.

Deakins promised to use consulting experience to clarify and resolve issues. Improving board relations with Knox County Commission, which funds school budgets, would help, he said.

“I feel a responsibility to ensure this school’s done right,” he said. “We’ll have a better learning environment, if our kids can go to better schools.”

Jackson, whose daughters attend Karns schools, said he prefers hearing less talk about a proposed Hardin Valley “academy school” and more emphasis on grassroots education.

But Carson said transfer of 600 Farragut pupils to a new high school would require offering academics that would better attract them. An academy school, she said, would offer students needed “rigor, relationship [with teachers] and relevance in education.”

Deakins said he shared Jackson’s sentiments until he attended a recent “summit” meeting to discuss Hardin Valley’s future. Now, he added, he better understands the idea of an academy that would have “learning communities.”

“It’s not the same as a magnet school,” he said. “We’d lose nothing in relieving crowding.”

Carson said the school was proposed for 1,600 students, but growth since meant the school must serve 2,100. Though the school is called a $40 million facility, she said, rising costs, coupled with a $4 million geothermal heating unit, bring its total nearer $50 million.

Hammond urged those concerned with the school’s future to attend a Knox County Commission meeting Monday, Aug. 28. He would be just one among 19 commissioners voting, he said, but he opposes proposals to phase in its student body, one class per year, between 2009 and 2012.

“Before I vote another penny, that [phase-in idea] must be rethought,” he said.

Farragut High School also needs renovation, he noted. “It’s more than a building issue. It’s an education issue,” Hammond added.

Deakins agreed that opening Hardin Valley for 1,300 or fewer pupils would do little to ease crowded classrooms.

“I may not be the guy to solve all these problems,” he added. “But I do bring a fresh approach to the table.”

July 13, 2006 Meeting

Craig Leuthold and John Griess will be the speakers on July 13, 2006 at the Gondolier Restaurant. Dinner at 6:30 PM, Meeting at 7:30 PM.

GOP Code of Ethics

Due to several requests looking for a copy of the "GOP Code of Ethics", I have made some inquiries. Apparently the GOP DOES NOT have a Code of Ethics at the Tennessee GOP or at the National GOP. Below is an e-mail response from Valerie Phillips of the National GOP. Perhaps it is time to have a Code of Ethics?

Mr. Johns,

Thank you for contacting the Republican National Committee. The RNC does not have a “Code of Ethics.” The Party is governed by the Rules of the Republican Party. The Rules may be found online at: http://www.gop.com/About/AboutRead.aspx?AboutType=4

Please feel free to contact me should you have any additional questions.

Thanks and best,

Valerie Phillips
Director of Staff and Special Projects
Counsel's Office
Republican National Committee

ASPA Code of Ethics

I. Serve the Public Interest
Serve the public, beyond serving oneself. ASPA members are committed to:

1. Exercise discretionary authority to promote the public interest.
2. Oppose all forms of discrimination and harassment, and promote affirmative action.
3. Recognize and support the public's right to know the public's business.
4. Involve citizens in policy decision-making.
5. Exercise compassion, benevolence, fairness and optimism.
6. Respond to the public in ways that are complete, clear, and easy to understand.
7. Assist citizens in their dealings with government.
8. Be prepared to make decisions that may not be popular.

II. Respect the Constitution and the Law
Respect, support, and study government constitutions and laws that define responsibilities of public agencies, employees, and all citizens. ASPA members are committed to:

1. Understand and apply legislation and regulations relevant to their professional role.
2. Work to improve and change laws and policies that are counterproductive or obsolete.
3. Eliminate unlawful discrimination.
4. Prevent all forms of mismanagement of public funds by establishing and maintaining strong fiscal and management controls, and by supporting audits and investigative activities.
5. Respect and protect privileged information.
6. Encourage and facilitate legitimate dissent activities in government and protect the whistleblowing rights of public employees.
7. Promote constitutional principles of equality, fairness, representativeness, responsiveness and due process in protecting citizens' rights.

III. Demonstrate Personal Integrity
Demonstrate the highest standards in all activities to inspire public confidence and trust in public service. ASPA members are committed to:

1. Maintain truthfulness and honesty and to not compromise them for advancement, honor, or personal gain.
2. Ensure that others receive credit for their work and contributions.
3. Zealously guard against conflict of interest or its appearance: e.g., nepotism, improper outside employment, misuse of public resources or the acceptance of gifts.
4. Respect superiors, subordinates, colleagues and the public.
5. Take responsibility for their own errors.
6. Conduct official acts without partisanship.

IV. Promote Ethical Organizations
Strengthen organizational capabilities to apply ethics, efficiency and effectiveness in serving the public. ASPA members are committed to:

1. Enhance organizational capacity for open communication, creativity, and dedication.
2. Subordinate institutional loyalties to the public good.
3. Establish procedures that promote ethical behavior and hold individuals and organizations accountable for their conduct.
4. Provide organization members with an administrative means for dissent, assurance of due process and safeguards against reprisal.
5. Promote merit principles that protect against arbitrary and capricious actions.
6. Promote organizational accountability through appropriate controls and procedures.
7. Encourage organizations to adopt, distribute, and periodically review a code of ethics as a living document.

V. Strive for Professional Excellence
Strengthen individual capabilities and encourage the professional development of others. ASPA members are committed to:

1. Provide support and encouragement to upgrade competence.
2. Accept as a personal duty the responsibility to keep up to date on emerging issues and potential problems.
3. Encourage others, throughout their careers, to participate in professional activities and associations.
4. Allocate time to meet with students and provide a bridge between classroom studies and the realities of public service.

Welcome to the Farragut Republican Club

Welcome to the OFFICIAL site / blog of the Farragut Republican Club. The Farragut GOP has a very strong club and invites you to visit us every SECOND Thursday at the Gondolier.