September 11th Meeting: Former Sheriff Tim Hutchinson
The speaker for the September 11th meeting will be former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison.
UPDATE:
Vines: Former sheriff mum on future
By Georgiana Vines
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison, acknowledging he enjoyed serving as an elected official for 17 years, says he won't say whether he will seek the county mayor's post in two years "because I don't want to be beat on for two years."
Hutchison spoke Thursday night to some 40 people at the Concord-Farragut Republican Club meeting at Papalinas restaurant, where he repeatedly criticized media coverage, specifically the News Sentinel's, on his administration and issues of the turmoil in Knox County government that centered around term limits and the state Open Meetings Act the past 20 months.
The focus of his talk was on his years in law enforcement work and as sheriff, his private contracting business, and observations on Knox County government since being ousted by a state Supreme Court decision in 2007.
"I'm not going to dare make any kind of announcement now," he said when asked about his future plans. "If I ran for something else it's because I care about this community."
While the specific job of mayor was not mentioned in public, it was discussed in private conversations at the meeting.
Nepotism was one topic on which Hutchison criticized the News Sentinel's coverage. He said 50 employees, maybe 100, out of the thousands in government, including the schools, might fall in that category.
County Commissioner Paul Pinkston of South Knoxville and his wife, Dorothy Pinkston, a Sheriff's Office employee, were at the meeting, and Hutchison cited her as an example of what he thought was unfair criticism.
"She was there 24 years before Paul was elected," Hutchison said.
"Before you were sheriff," Paul Pinkston injected.
On the Open Meetings Law, Hutchison said the state Legislature passed the law "and then exempted themselves from it." The law needs to be changed so that two or three public officials representing the same district can talk, he said.
"I don't believe the majority should get together and decide things," he added.
Mike Mitchell of Farragut said he thought it was "completely inexplicable" that three commissioners can't talk to each other and with the community on issues. His comment received spontaneous applause from the crowd, which included a handful of other elected officials and three candidates for county sessions judge.
Here's a synopsis on what else Hutchison said:
Term limits: "It's crazy to throw out experience every eight years."
Proposed county charter amendments, which would allow the mayor to appoint some currently elected officials and reduce the size of County Commission: The Supreme Court decision "is going to be used as a back door way for metro government."
County Mayor Mike Ragsdale: Attention on the County Commission, with its "fighting and playing with each other," keeps the focus off of the mayor and issues of financial mismanagement. The way the government is set up, the mayor is supposed to lead the county Commission. "Our mayor is not standing up."
Another potential county mayoral candidate was there to hear Hutchison. County Commissioner Richard Briggs, a cardiovascular surgeon, emerged successfully in winning a crowded Republican primary in February and the general election last month.
Asked on Friday if he's interested in the position of county mayor, Briggs replied, "I think if the conditions were right I'd consider it. It would entail my giving up my practice. It is something I could get passionate about. If there would be a consensus about what would move the county forward on business expansion, education, economic development, there needs to be a team leader without an ax to grind for anyone."
State Sen. Tim Burchett, also a Republican, has said he will seek the post.
Georgiana Vines is retired News Sentinel associate editor. She may be reached at 865-577-6612 or gvpolitics@hotmail.com.
UPDATE:
Vines: Former sheriff mum on future
By Georgiana Vines
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison, acknowledging he enjoyed serving as an elected official for 17 years, says he won't say whether he will seek the county mayor's post in two years "because I don't want to be beat on for two years."
Hutchison spoke Thursday night to some 40 people at the Concord-Farragut Republican Club meeting at Papalinas restaurant, where he repeatedly criticized media coverage, specifically the News Sentinel's, on his administration and issues of the turmoil in Knox County government that centered around term limits and the state Open Meetings Act the past 20 months.
The focus of his talk was on his years in law enforcement work and as sheriff, his private contracting business, and observations on Knox County government since being ousted by a state Supreme Court decision in 2007.
"I'm not going to dare make any kind of announcement now," he said when asked about his future plans. "If I ran for something else it's because I care about this community."
While the specific job of mayor was not mentioned in public, it was discussed in private conversations at the meeting.
Nepotism was one topic on which Hutchison criticized the News Sentinel's coverage. He said 50 employees, maybe 100, out of the thousands in government, including the schools, might fall in that category.
County Commissioner Paul Pinkston of South Knoxville and his wife, Dorothy Pinkston, a Sheriff's Office employee, were at the meeting, and Hutchison cited her as an example of what he thought was unfair criticism.
"She was there 24 years before Paul was elected," Hutchison said.
"Before you were sheriff," Paul Pinkston injected.
On the Open Meetings Law, Hutchison said the state Legislature passed the law "and then exempted themselves from it." The law needs to be changed so that two or three public officials representing the same district can talk, he said.
"I don't believe the majority should get together and decide things," he added.
Mike Mitchell of Farragut said he thought it was "completely inexplicable" that three commissioners can't talk to each other and with the community on issues. His comment received spontaneous applause from the crowd, which included a handful of other elected officials and three candidates for county sessions judge.
Here's a synopsis on what else Hutchison said:
Term limits: "It's crazy to throw out experience every eight years."
Proposed county charter amendments, which would allow the mayor to appoint some currently elected officials and reduce the size of County Commission: The Supreme Court decision "is going to be used as a back door way for metro government."
County Mayor Mike Ragsdale: Attention on the County Commission, with its "fighting and playing with each other," keeps the focus off of the mayor and issues of financial mismanagement. The way the government is set up, the mayor is supposed to lead the county Commission. "Our mayor is not standing up."
Another potential county mayoral candidate was there to hear Hutchison. County Commissioner Richard Briggs, a cardiovascular surgeon, emerged successfully in winning a crowded Republican primary in February and the general election last month.
Asked on Friday if he's interested in the position of county mayor, Briggs replied, "I think if the conditions were right I'd consider it. It would entail my giving up my practice. It is something I could get passionate about. If there would be a consensus about what would move the county forward on business expansion, education, economic development, there needs to be a team leader without an ax to grind for anyone."
State Sen. Tim Burchett, also a Republican, has said he will seek the post.
Georgiana Vines is retired News Sentinel associate editor. She may be reached at 865-577-6612 or gvpolitics@hotmail.com.
posted by Bill Johns @ 5:25 PM
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