December 31, 2006 Got Comments? Get a Backbone!

Noe4accountability has received comments on several recent posts.

I have published the comments that were made by an identifiable person.

Other comments have been signed "anonymous."

I appreciate the loyal readers of this blog. And I welcome comments that aren't of the petty, sniping, tacky, or vulgar variety.

"Anonymous" commenters need to get a backbone.

Here's an idea: The New Year is the pefect time for Anonymous(es) to resolve to get a backbone and speak openly using their name.

Put your name to your comments--whether your comments are about the post or are just a way of venting your personal anger at me.

Be willing to engage, as I am, in open and frank discussions using your own name.

Come on. Put your name out there. Don't hide.

It's a free country! Get a backbone and come at me if you want.

Don't hide and snipe. That's tacky and petty.

December 30, 2006 Tennessee Supreme Court

The Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission is scheduled to meet on January 24 to pick a third nominee for the vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court.

The Commission is acting in response to Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle's recent ruling.

The third nominee will join Judge D'Army Bailey and Judge William C. Koch, Jr. on a second panel of candidates for the vacancy.

Governor Bredesen will then appoint one of the three to the Supreme Court.

On a different track, the two candidates who were on the first panel that was rejected by Governor Bredesen when a minority candidate withdrew are appealing Lyle's ruling.

December 29, 2006 Associated Press: Saddam's Execution Soon

The AP has just issued a report that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will be executed by Saturday.

The News-Sentinel has the story now.

December 28, 2006 Tn Waltz Update

With the recent addition of more charges against former Tennessee State Senator John Ford, the Memphis Commercial Appeal has a Waltz update.

The update describes the current status of 12 public officials who were indicted in the FBI's E-cycle sting operation.

Most of those indicted are from Memphis/Shelby County.

Some have already been tried while others, the most prominent of which is John Ford, await their day in court.

December 26, 2006 Knox One-Vote Referendum Goes to TN Atty. General

After a wonderful Christmas with friends and family, it's back to blogging.

The one-vote annexation referendum in Knox County continues to be the subject of a lot of interest and investigative articles in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Reporter Rebecca Farrar, in an article in the December 21st Sentinel, highlights questions--and provides at least some answers-- about the residence and employment of 20-year old Garrett Meek.

Meek is the 20-year old who cast the one and only vote in an annexation referendum that brought 70 acres into the City of Knoxville.

Developers apparently have said that Meek lived at 7521 Chapman Highway, the site of the proposed 70-acre shopping center.

After casting his ballot during early voting on October 23, water was cut off to Meek's "residence" the next day. Within just a few short days, the entire "residence" was torn down.

Utility records garnered by the Sentinel raise some questions about the timeline based on the use, or non-use, of water and electricity at the house.

KUB and Knox Chapman Utility District records show no electricity or water at 7521 Chapman Highway from January to May.

Records show very low electricity and water usage during the summer.

In explaining the lack of use and/or low use of electricity and water, the developer's attorney, Tim Zitzman, has said Meek lived in a camper from January to April, then moved into a house rented from Graham Corp.

Despite several previous reports and attempts to contact Mr. Meek, the News-Sentinel has not been able to locate him.

The Knox County Commission passed a resolution Monday asking that the state attorney general investigate the annexation vote. The request for an investigation has been sent to the state attorney general, according to a December 23rd article.

Commissioners, County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and others appear to be in agreement that the project is a "good development" moneywise.

For the most part, sales tax and property tax money are not issues. The integrity and handling of the referendum election and Mr. Meek's residence are the issues.

Obviously, Mr. Meek's comments would be helpful in sorting this all out, but it looks like the 20-year old is not talking.

Now an attorney, saying that he represents Mr. Meek, has jumped into the fray.

Attorney John Lucas is warning Knox County Commissioners to back off and hints that commissioners who question Meek's involvement in the referendum might find themselves as defendants in a lawsuit.

December 24, 2006 Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all.

No more blogging until December 26.

Linda

December 24, 2006 Chancellor's Decision Will Be Appealed

Two attorneys, Houston Gordon and Buck Lewis, have asked for an expedited appeal of Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle's decision in regard to Governor Bredesen's selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Gordon and Lewis were on the first 3-person candidate panel submitted to the Governor by the Judicial Selection Commission. The third individual on the panel, who was the only minority member on the panel, withdrew for personal reasons. The Governor then rejected the first panel.

The Governor asked that a second panel be submitted, and Bredesen maintained that the second panel could not include the names of either Gordon or Lewis since they had been included on the first panel that was rejected.

Chancellor Lyle upheld the Governor's position.

The Judicial Selection Commission recently announced that it would not challenge the ruling.

Two of the individuals who were on the first panel, however, have decided to appeal.

Late on December 22, Houston Gordon and Buck Lewis asked for an expedited appeal of Lyle's decision requiring the Judicial Selection Commission to submit a totally new second panel of Supreme Court candidates to Governor Phil Bredesen.

Gordon and Lewis are also asking the state Supreme Court to exercise its statutory "reach down" jurisdiction and take the appeal directly.

December 22, 2006 Nashville Press Conference on Public Corruption

Most people expected that yesterday's announced press conference in Nashville by federal prosecutors would involve public corruption at the state level.

Instead the charges were connected to local corruption in the Nashville Police Department.

A Nashville police officer who was engaged in heavy-duty cocaine trafficking and other offenses was arrested.

Dcember 21, 2006 More Public Corruption Indictments

The Tennessean is reporting that more public corruption indictments will be unsealed this afternoon.

Federal prosecutors will have an announcement at a 1:00 PM press conference.

December 21, 2006 A $40,000 Rolex Watch

Prosecutors hope to be able to put a $40,000 Rolex watch before the jury when former State Senator John Ford's trials begin.

Federal prosecutors allege that Ford received the watch from wealthy Memphis developer Rusty Hyneman.

According to prosecutors, Ford once said that he got the watch "free of charge" after using his influence to reduce huge pollution fines that had been levied against Hyneman by the state.

The prosecutors would likely use the watch to show that Ford had a practice of taking payoffs.

Ford's lawyer, Michael Scholl, maintains that the watch wasn't a payoff or a gift and will fight to keep it out of evidence.

Ford, 64, denies all charges.

Ford was charged in the FBI's Tennessee Waltz E-cycle bribery/sting Operation in May 2005.

Recently, Ford was indicted in connection with his ties to companies doing business with TennCare while serving in the State Senate on TennCare oversight committees.

December 21, 2006 No Appeal on Tennessee Supreme Court Vacancy Ruling

Tennessee is one step closer to filling a Tennessee Supreme Court vacancy.

The Judicial Selection Commission has decided not to appeal a chancellor's recent ruling that it must be submit a second panel of three all new candidates to Governor Bredesen.

No repeats from the first panel that was rejected when the lone minority candidate chose to withdraw.

Background info and other links here.

December 20, 2006 Why Is a Democrat Challenging Lt. Gov. Wilder Now?

Why is Democrat State Senator Joe Haynes challenging Democrat State Senator John Wilder for the position of Lieutenant Governor/Speaker of the Senate?

Wilder, 85, has served as Lt. Governor/Speaker since 1971, and there has been no Democrat challenge to Wilder's leadership for the past two decades.

Yesterday's post on Haynes ' decision to challenge Wilder for Lt. Gov. in 2007 mentions the fact that Wilder is linked to a land deal involving a fellow member of Wilder's Senate family -- Democrat Senator Jerry Cooper.

The Wilder-Cooper connection is also mentioned in a recent News-Sentinel editorial.

Could it be that Haynes' sudden challenge has been sparked by concern that Wilder might give damaging testimony or be indicted later on in the Cooper land deal?

If that occurred and Wilder resigned or was removed from office, it might be hard for Democrats, who are already the minority party in the Senate, to cobble together 17 votes for another Democrat while in the midst of a scandal.

Is Haynes running to head off this possible scenario? Probably only Haynes knows for sure right now.

Haynes' sudden challenge to Wilder took a lot of people by surprise.

But it's not so surprising if Haynes and other Democrats are thinking that there could be problems on down the road for Wilder and for Democrats in holding on to the Speakership/Lt. Governorship.

December 20, 2006 The Tennessee Waltz continues....

Former State Sen. John Ford of Memphis continues to waltz toward the courtroom.

Ford, arrested in May 2005 during the FBI's Tennessee Waltz sting operation, already has a February 2007 trial date for those charges.

Now Ford faces additional charges in connection with consulting contracts with TennCare contractors.

Ford admits that he did "consulting" work for Doral Dental and Omnicare (now United American Health Care) at the same time he served as chairman of a legislative committee with oversight over the TennCare program.

Of the new charges, Ford says: "I categorically deny every allegation and charge they made. It's absolutely ridiculous. This is a rehashment of the (state legislature's) ethics investigation; they found nothing."

The indictment outlines work Ford did to help Doral win TennCare's sole contract to provide dental services to TennCare enrollees and contacts that Ford made with state officials for Omnicare to increase its revenue.

Ford told reporters. "I have done nothing wrong. As a citizen-legislator, you have a right to work, to earn a living. Every allegation they have made, I had a legitimate contract to work on."

An old political saying comes to mind: Follow the money trail. The money trail often leads to a personal (or family) financial conflict of interest.

There is no doubt that Ford has a right to work.

He apparently believes that with the "right" to work, there is also a right to use his elected office and insider connections in order to enrich himself while he "works" to help companies get no-bid contracts with the state.

After a period of time in office, too many elected officials "cross over" from providing honest public service to providing service for their or their family's personal financial gain.

That's why I think term limits are important.

December 19, 2006 Things Get WILDER in Tn State Senate

Amazing!

A Democrat is apparently throwing his name into the ring as an alternative to current (forever?) Democrat Lt. Gov. John Wilder.

Sen. Joe Haynes (D-Nashville) recently announced that he is challenging Wilder, 85, who has served as Lt Gov/Speaker of the Senate for 36 years.

Wilder hasn't been challenged by a Democrat in 20 years.

Today's news means that even some Democrats are thinking that Wilder's 36-year tenure as speaker should end. The Democrat nominee will be selected at a Jan. 4 caucus.

Actually, it is Republicans who hold a 17-16 majority in the State Senate and the Republicans have already selected their nominee for the Lt Gov/Speaker of the Senate position, Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville).

What is keeping Ramsey from a 17-16 win in the race for Lt Gov/Speaker is Republican Sen. Mike Williams of Maynardville.

Williams, a Republican, is withholding his support from Ramsey, leaving Ramsey one vote shy of a win.

The position of Lt. Gov. is important because the person who holds that position is next in line to the governorship.

Wilder is certainly a powerful individual. Two years ago, Wilder got Williams' vote and then rewarded Williams with the position of Speaker Pro Tem.

Wilder is cranky. He is sometimes disoriented and always fiercely loyal to his political friends.

With new indictments announced today against former State Sen. John Ford, Wilder's rambling "prayer" for his Senate family after the May 2005 Tennessee Waltz arrests comes to mind.

Wilder's prayer on the floor of the Senate wasn't about enforcing the law or about the shame of corruption or about hoping that justice would be served. Wilder expressed no concern about the public. Wilder was concerned about his "family."

The Tennessean reported:

The legislature largely closed ranks around its indicted members yesterday, starting with a prayer by Lt. Gov. John Wilder condemning the tactics of federal agents who arrested seven people in the Operation Tennessee Waltz sting...

Wilder, who has been the leader of the state Senate since 1971, prayed from the well of the Senate chamber and let it be known that he considered his very family to be under attack...

"Money was being offered as bait to put somebody in jail," Wilder said in prayer to God. "That's wrong, and that's not Your way."

Earth to Wilder: Who forced members of the Senate family to take the money?

Didn't any of the indicted Senate family have the ability and the integrity to say "no"?

Several members of Wilder's Senate family have now pled guilty or been convicted. Others are still waiting to go to trial.

Wilder himself is tied to a land deal involving State Sen. Jerry Cooper, who was indicted in August 2006.

In addition to questions about Wilder's age, his connection to the Cooper land deal may be another factor in the move by some Democrats to mount a challenge to the Head of the Senate family in 2007.

December 18, 2006 Knox County Annexation Approved by One Voter

In a December 15 post, I mentioned the recent one-vote annexation referendum in Knox County.

More on the November referendum here.

The sole voter in the referendum, 20-year old Garrett Meek, can't be reached for comment.

Meek worked for a subcontractor on the annexation site, moved into a house on the site in March 2006, and registered to vote in Knox County.

Shortly after Meek cast the deciding and only vote in the Knox County annexation referendum, the house he had lived in was demolished.

The referendum has some commissioners and others concerned about the process and asking questions about whether "the single voter, a young man who did not own property within the annexed area, was a qualified voter..."

There are also those who want the state to investigate whether the Knox County Election Commission placed the question on a sample ballot as required by state law; whether the election commission gave proper notice of the referendum; and whether the notice was adequate and included necessary exhibits, including a map of the area to be annexed.

The Knox County Election Commission says everything was OK legally.

Mayor Mike Ragsdale, the City, and the developer want everyone to focus on the property and sales tax money that the project will bring in.

The development will bring in money.

The questions that are being asked, however, are not about how much money the project will bring in but are about conduct of an election with proper notice, sample ballots, maps, and a qualified voter.

Only time will tell whether there will be an answer to those questions.

December 15, 2006 Mama Bird "Evelyn Bryan Johnson" Hall of Famer

She is a legend in Morristown and elsewhere.

At 97, she is going to be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

She is Evelyn Bryan Johnson who took up flying in 1944 and started teaching others in 1947.

The Tennessean already has the story here.

What an accomplishment for a lady known as "Mama Bird"!

December 15, 2006 One-Man One-Vote One-Annexation

A little-advertised annexation referendum took place in Knox County recently.

There was only one eligible voter. He showed up at the polls and voted in favor of annexation.

With his sole approval, seventy acres in south Knoxville were annexed into the City of Knoxville.

A Lowe's Home Improvement store is on the site, and restaurants and other businesses are expected to follow now that the annexation is complete.

Who was the lone voter? A man who worked for a subcontractor on the site, who lived on the site, and whose "home" was demolished after the referendum.

Who says one vote doesn't count?

December 14, 2006 Chancellor: New Supreme Court Nominee Must Be Named

It is taking a long time to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle of Nashville has ruled that the Judicial Selection Commission must provide Governor Bredesen with another name to complete a 3-name "second panel" from which the Governor will select a Supreme Court nominee.

The story is here.

It is a complicated situation. Many months ago, the Judicial Selection Commission provided the Governor with 3 names ("first panel") from which to select the next Supreme Court nominee.

One of the three candidates, the only minority nominee, asked to withdraw for personal reasons. At that point, the Governor rejected the "first panel" completely because it no longer had a minority candidate.

The Judicial Commission then came back with a "second panel," but the "second panel" included one of the individuals who had been on the "first panel."

In Lyle's opinion, the state law is clear — the second panel must have three candidates, each of them different from the first panel.

Gordon’s attorney, Charles Bone, sees it differently and hinted that an appeal may be filed.

Bone said: "We anticipated from the beginning that this matter would ultimately be resolved by the Tennessee Supreme Court. I anticipate one or more of the parties will file an appeal."

December 14, 2006 And the Answer Is....

With lots of local and state news lately, the Tennessee Trivia Question of December 8 just about got forgotten.

The Question: What was the first TVA dam constructed?

The Answer: Norris Dam

More facts:

Norris Dam was named for Nebraska Senator George Norris who authored the federal legislation creating TVA.

Construction on Norris Dam began in 1933. Norris Dam is on the Clinch River. The first production of electricity occurred in 1936.

TVA has more info here.

December 13, 2006 Edmund Ford Talks about Big Loans from Friends

Memphis is a city in a mess.

Indicted Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford is still denying taking bribes. Instead, he explains that he is the fortunate recipient of very generous loans from developer friends.

Although Ford has declared bankruptcy several times, he has wealthy real estate developer "friends" who want to loan him money.

And to hear him tell it, the $40,000 loan from a developer friend to help him build his mortuary and the $50,000 loan from a developer friend to help purchase a Cadillac SUV have never influenced his vote on planning or zoning issues that come before the Council where these "friends" are involved.

The full story is here.

Developers make loans to an elected official who has no credit, who has to get someone else to co-sign a car loan, and who has declared bankruptcy numerous times. Why?

A recent letter to the editor in the Commercial Appeal from a city employee included this statement about the loans:

...I drive a 10-year-old Honda Accord that does the job just fine. I don't see Cooper or Rusty Hyneman lining up to co-sign and pay for my new Caddy, and I am a city employee whose job is just as important to our future as (Edmund) Ford's. It's just not profitable for Hyneman or Cooper, like unnecessary development and cars for drug dealers apparently are...

December 13, 2006 State Ethics Committee: Attorney-Client Privilege?

In a really strange twist of fate, the ethics and legality of actions of the Tennessee Ethics Commission are being questioned.

The Commission was recently asked to provide an "advisory opinion" to two Nashville lawyers who wanted to know when the duties of a lawyer require him or her to register as a lobbyist.

The commission is required by law to answer such questions in order to help lobbyists and public officials avoid conflicts and ethical violations.

The News-Sentinel article is here.

How the Commission handled the request is at issue.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) alleges that staff and members of the Ethics Commission prepared and circulated drafts and e-mail comments of the proposed advisory opinion but did not make the drafts or e-mails public.

Allan Ramsaur, head of the TBA, maintains that these exchanges and comments violate Tennessee's open meetings law requiring governmental bodies to hold all discussions and deliberations in an open, public meeting.

The commission, according to Ramsaur, was debating, discussing, and commenting on the issue in secret via e-mail exchanges.

Ethics Commission Chairman Tom Garland did not believe there was a violation. But, if there was a violation, it was "insignificant."

Then there are additional allegations that the Commission violated Tennessee's Open Records laws. An attorney, Courtney Pearre, filed a public documents request asking that all drafts and related documents be provided.

The state's "open records" law requires that most documents created, sent, or received by government agencies - with some exceptions - be made public upon request.

The Commission refused Pearre's initial request but is still "considering" the matter as it seeks guidance from the state attorney general's office.

The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, Bruce Androphy, cites the "attorney-client privilege" and "the deliberative process privilege" as exceptions to the requirement that records be made public.

Androphy adds that the commission believes that the draft documents and e-mails requested by Pearre are covered by one or both of the privileges.

Ramsaur, head of the Tennessee Bar Assn., responded that the "deliberative process" exception - keeping draft documents secret when in draft stage - is not recognized in Tennessee and that the "attorney-client" privilege apparently does not apply.

Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition on Open Government, apparently agrees with Ramsaur that the draft documents are not protected by any privilege and are public documents.

On a possible violation of Tennessee's Open Meetings Law, Gibson adds that this would depend on the content of the drafts and the e-mail comments and whether the drafts and e-mails show that "deliberation" was taking place.

December 12, 2006 Ethics Policy in Hamblen County

The Hamblen County Mayor had the CTAS (County Technical Assistance Services) Model Ethics Policy on the agenda for County Commission Committee meetings yesterday.

My December 10th post provided information on the Model Policy and a link where the entire policy can be reviewed.

County Attorney Rusty Cantwell suggested that action on the policy be postponed until the January meetings to allow more time for review. The committee agreed to wait and give all commissioners more time to look at the policy instead of taking a vote yesterday.

The Model Policy is a lengthy document. There should be a great deal of discussion and a lot of questions from commissioners and others because the policy will have an impact on commissioners, other elected officials, county employees, and members of county boards and agencies.

State law mandates that a county policy be in place by June 30, 2007.

The adoption of a Hamblen County Ethics Policy could be one of the most important actions that the current county commission undertakes. Here's hoping that there will be lots of questions, answers to those questions, and open and frank discussion about any new ethics policy.

As I have mentioned before, there are numerous conflicts of interest in both city and county government. Because Tennessee's conflict of interest laws are so wide that you can drive a truck through them, the local conflicts may or may not rise to the level of "legal" conflicts.

Despite the weakness of conflict on interest laws, the average person who works for a living easily sees everyday conflicts of interest when he observes elected and appointed officials hiring and supervising their own relatives, voting on budgets and appropriations that affect a spouse or child, serving on inter-related boards and commissions, and collecting two or three checks from the county and county boards and agencies.

There is a great opportunity now for the Hamblen County Commission to rise above partisanship and self-interest and to set the ethics bar at the highest level in Hamblen County.

Hopefully, commissioners will seize this opportunity and adopt a stringent ethics policy with the highest standards.

Wouldn't it be great to see articles across the state noting that Hamblen County adopted the most demanding ethics policy of any county?

If there's any area where it is clearly important to be #1, it would be in the adoption of an ethics policy that exemplifies the highest in governmental integrity and that demands that elected officials and governmental employees avoid even the appearance of impropriety in their actions!

December 10, 2006 A New Local Ethics Policy

The General Assembly passed the "Comprehensive Governmental Ethics Reform Act of 2006" in February of 2006. T.C.A. § 8-17-101 et seq.

The Ethics Reform Act requires local governments to adopt ethical standards related to the acceptance of gifts and disclosure of conflicts of interest. It also directs CTAS (County Technical Assistance Services) to develop a Model Policy.

Counties must adopt an ethics policy by June 30, 2007.

The policy must address at least two things: (1) disclosure and/or limits on gifts and (2) disclosure of conflicts of interest.

The policy applies broadly to all officials and employees and members of all boards and commissions of a county.

The CTAS Model Policy can be adopted as is or with modifications. The entire Model Policy can be seen here.

Here are a just few abbreviated highlights.

Section 1: The definition of "County" is broad.

The definition of "officials and employees" who are covered by the policy includes elected and appointed county officials, county employees, and members of county boards, agencies, etc.

The Ethics Reform Act mandates disclosure of personal interests that impact or appear to impact the discretion of officials and employees.

A personal interest that must be disclosed is a financial interest of the official or employee or a financial interest of a spouse or child who lives in the same household with the official or employee.

Section 2. Conflicts of interest. A person whose duty it is to vote on county matters must publicly disclose any personal interest that they may have in a matter to be voted upon if that personal interest affects the person’s vote or if it would lead a reasonable person to believe it affects the person’s vote.

Section 3. Matters where a vote is not involved but which require the exercise of discretion. Officials and employees must publicly disclose any personal interest that affects or would lead a reasonable person to believe it affects the person’s exercise of discretion even when there is no vote.

Section 4. Prohibition from accepting gifts by employees and officials.

Section 5. Creation of a five-member County Ethics Committee to receive and investigate complaints of violations of the policy and to refer matters to the appropriate person or agency for further action, if appropriate.

**The Ethics Reform Act does not contain any provisions regarding a local Ethics Committee or enforcement of the ethical standards or specific penalties.

Although the state act does not require an Ethics Committee, the CTAS Model Policy does include creation of such a committee to receive complaints in section 5.

In Hamblen County, there is a commissioner who is a county employee, there are commissioners who serve on multiple boards and agencies, and there are commissioners who vote on budgets and appropriations that financially affect their spouse or other relative.

County Attorney Rusty Cantwell will be the key. If he decides that current commissioners do not have financial interests that create conflicts of interest, then the Model Policy might be adopted as is.

If, however, he decides that the wording of the Model Policy might affect certain current county commissioners due to conflicts and various personal financial interests, you might see county commission asking Mr. Cantwell to make changes that would remove commissioners' conflicts of interest by simply re-defining the term.

Add a few words, remove a few words.

Poof! No more conflicts of interest on county commission or anywhere else!

December 9, 2006 Bredesen: Brunson Selected as New Dep. Governor

Gov. Bredesen has selected Stuart Brunson, manager of Bredesen's 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns, as his new Deputy Governor.

Brunson will be in charge of political and constituent concerns.

Brunson replaces former Dep. Governor Dave Cooley who recently resigned.

December 8, 2006 Edmund Ford: It Was a "Loan"

Last year's Tennessee Waltz sting operation resulted in the arrest of a handful of sitting Tennessee legislators and shocked the state.

Most legislators got on the ethics bandwagon, and the Tennessee General Assembly met in a special session and passed ethics legislation in early 2006.

The legislation was intended to rein in influence peddling, conflicts of interest, and bribery both at the state and local levels.

Sadly, Memphis (Shelby County) is in the midst of two new FBI operations--Main Street Sweeper and Clean Sweep.

These operations have resulted in the arrest of two sitting Memphis City Councilmen (Edmund Ford and Rickey Peete) and one former Shelby County Commissioner (Joe Cooper).

A December 2 post discusses the charges against Councilmen Rickey Peete and Edmund Ford.

Now, one of the accused, Edmund Ford, is talking about the money that he took. The Commercial-Appeal has the full story.

Ford has viewed the tape showing him taking money from FBI informant Joe Cooper. Ford says he "laughed" when he saw the tape.

According to Ford, the tape shows him taking a "loan" from Cooper so that he could catch up on financial obligations--one of those obligations being making payments on a Cadillac sport utility vehicle that he leases.

Reportedly, Cooper was a salesman at Bud Davis Cadillac last year when he arranged for Edmund Ford to lease a $50,000 Cadillac SRX.

Ford had bad credit and couldn't qualify for the car on his own, so a local millionaire developer, Rusty Hyneman, graciously co-signed the lease.

Ford says that Hyneman did not co-sign the note in order to influence Ford's votes on development issues. Ford says that Hyneman co-signed the note simply because he is a friend.

Ford also says that when he (Ford) fell behind on the lease payments, another person whom he thought was a friend (Joe Cooper, the former car salesman) lent him money.

Apparently, the FBI looks at the cash payments differently.

The FBI alleges that Ford took a total of $6,900 in three payments between Aug. 30 and Oct. 27, 2006. An affidavit from an FBI agent says that the money was in exchange for Ford's support and influence on a billboard development on I-240.

Now it will be up to a jury to decide whether Edmund Ford took a bribe or a loan.

December 8, 2006 Tennessee Trivia Question

The Tennessee Valley Authority has been in the news lately with its Board voting on a new land policy curbing the sale of TVA's public land to private developers.

Our Tennessee Trivia Question is about TVA:

What TVA dam was the first one built?

Send replies to noe4accountability@yahoo.com

December 7, 2006 "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"

Pearl Harbor Day. December 7, 1941.

Sixty-five years have passed since the Japanese attack on the U. S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The actions of the Japanese on that day altered world history and spurred the United States to enter World War II.

Japanese Admiral Yamamoto has been widely quoted to have said after the attack, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant."

Indeed, the giant awoke with swift and firm resolve.

President Franklin Roosevelt (pictured) gave a stirring address to the U. S. Congress on December 8, 1941:

"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

Roosevelt's entire speech can be read and heard here. (www.Americanrhetoric.com)

It is magnficient.

December 6, 2006 Another Tennessee Waltz Conviction in Memphis

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports that Michael Hooks, Sr. was sentenced today to 2 years and 2 months in prison for accepting over $24,000 in bribes while serving as a Shelby County Commissioner.

Hooks' arrest was part of the FBI's Tennessee Waltz sting that resulted in numerous statewide arrests and convictions of elected officials, including several Tennessee legislators, a school board member, a county commissioner, and others.

Several of those who were arrested in the Waltz have already been tried and convicted. However, a few, the most prominent of whom is former Sen. John Ford of Memphis, have not had their day in court yet.

Hooks was filmed taking money in return for helping a fictitious company, "E-cycle," get government contracts and business in Shelby County.

Read the story here.

December 6, 2006 Passenger Evicted as Gas Causes Emergency Landing

Check out this link to a story in the Tennessean about an airline passenger whose "indigestion" caused an emergency landing of her flight.

The lady repeatedly lit matches on the plane, attempting to disguise the outwardly effects of her indigestion.

Sad to say, she was not allowed to get back on the flight.

The story, absent the passenger's eviction, is a gas!

December 5, 2006 Hamblen-Jefferson Financial Problems

The new Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri made the front page of the Sunday newspaper expressing concerns about the fact that Jefferson County has been making interest-only payments on the county debt and shuffling money all around.

Hamblen County has been doing the very same thing---and more. See recent posts here and here.

Here are some bits and pieces of Palmieri's discussion of the type of financial sleight-of-hand that occurs when power is centralized, checks and balances are ignored, and no one asks and no one answers tough financial questions.

---------------------------------

Palmieri took office as county mayor Sept. 1, replacing Gary Holloway (sic) who had served in the office for 20 years. The issues, according to Palmieri, include the justice center which is $2 million over budget...

...the planning for the $14 million center did not take into consideration staffing and utilities issues. "Those issues should have been handled up front," he said.

Although the sheriff was told initially that the bond issue included funding for those areas, he now says "the money was spent for other things."

Palmieri points out that the county also is facing a school building project...

He says the cost of the school expansion project has ranged from $18 million to $70 million and "somehow we are going to have to deal with how we’ll fund that project and how soon we’ll get it off the ground."....

The county mayor will make a proposal for a 12-year plan to eliminate the county’s current $63 million debt, take care of the school building needs and develop an industrial park without raising the county property tax rate.

Palmieri is tight lipped about his financing plan or how much he will propose for the various needs of the county, but he is critical of the past practice of "making interest payments but no payments on the principal of the debt."

-----------------------------

Hamblen County? Same financial story, but no newspaper articles.

There won't be a front-page story with the truth from an elected official or from an investigative reporter about what's going on here.

There won't be a picture of the County Mayor and an article where he expresses concern about years and years of interest-only payments and switching money around.

There won't be a story where the paper or commissioners ask questions and report the Hamblen County Mayor's role and actions in bypassing county commission in making an appropriation of money.

The Mayor just takes a county matching funds spending resolution, signs it, has his employee sign it, and then sends it to the state along with a letter falsely telling the state that the matching funds resolution he signed was voted on and approved by the commission.

Who needs a commission to make an appropriation of money as required by law when the Mayor just signs, seals, and delivers it without bothering to get a vote?

There won't be a story where the Hamblen County Mayor is asked to explain why he enrolled the director of one local non-profit organization, his close personal and political friend, on the county's insurance but didn't offer the same enrollment/payment deal to other non-profit directors.

No questions about whether it was legal to put the friend on in the first place. No questions about, if it was legal, why weren't other non-profits given the same opportunity?

The 11-year shell game has gone ka-put. Now what?

Where is the man or woman on commission--or anywhere else--who is prepared to insist that the Mayor answer truthfully to allegations of falsifying documents, putting friends on the county insurance, and shifting money around without authorization?

Where is the man or woman on commission--or anywhere else--who is prepared to publicly say that such actions, if true, show abuse of office and contempt for our system of checks and balances?

Where is the man or woman on commission--or anywhere else--who will start to ask questions and really watch the county's finances closely.

A newly-elected official in Jefferson County is opening up the information pipeline, admitting problems, and using common sense to address the issues.

Anything less than that in Hamblen County, and you're just rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

December 4, 2006 Tribune Article on Jefferson County Finances

Economic realities and financial problems in Jefferson County made the front page of the Citizen-Tribune yesterday.

Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri has called for a special meeting of the Jefferson County Commission today.

Palmieri apparently plans to tell the Jefferson County Commission about years and years of piling up debt and then making interest-only payments on that debt, shuffling money around, and no planning.

These financial practices seem to have placed the county in a bad situation---especially with justice center funding and another school building program just around the corner.

Now what will the members of the Jefferson County Commission say and do?

Who was asking questions during the years of these interest-only payments? Were Commissioners checking to see that money went where it was supposed to or did they just blindly trust someone else to spend the money like it was supposed to be spent?

For a moment as I read the story, I thought I was reading about Hamblen County because my recent posts here and here report the very same financially disastrous activities: interest-only payments, switching money around, no planning, and little accountability.

Unwise financial practices are now coming home to roost in Jefferson and Hamblen counties. In Hamblen, the problems are the result of a lack of checks and balances, a huge fear of asking questions, and a lack of openness and truthfulness.

And the taxpayers are in for a world of hurt.

When elected officials find themselves doing favors and providing cover for themselves and for one another instead of serving the people and being honest, the stink eventually comes out.

The full Tribune article on Jefferson County can be found here. Since the link may or may not work in the future, I'll provide a fuller report later.

December 2, 2006 Public Corruption Arrests in Memphis

Shelby County /Memphis government officials have made the news again with more indictments for bribery.

Just a year or so after federal prosecutors issued Tennessee Waltz indictments against several Shelby County/Memphis officials, the most prominent of whom was State Sen. John Ford, operation "Main Street Sweeper" has resulted in bribery charges against two Memphis City Councilmen.

The indicted Memphis City Councilmen are Rickey Peete and Edmund Ford.

Does the second name have a familiar political ring?

Edmund Ford is former State Senator John Ford's brother. He is also Harold Ford, Sr.'s brother and Harold Ford Jr.'s uncle.

The mythical and powerful Ford machine now has the dubious distinction of having a family member indicted in the "Tennessee Waltz" scandal (John) and in the "Main Street Sweeper" scandal (Edmund).

In a separate investigation dubbed "Clean Sweep," former Shelby County Commissioner Joe Cooper was indicted for money laundering.

A news video about the arrests can be seen on Memphis TV. Click here for the video site. Then scroll down on the video list to the right of the media player screen and click on Criminal Complaint for the Peete, Ford, and Cooper video.

December 2, 2006 Dep. Gov. Dave Cooley Resigns

Tennessee's Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley has submitted his resignation. Two weeks ago, I predicted this was coming in a Nov. 16 post. See other recent posts on Cooley: Part I and Part II. [This blog post has been updated with more information and more links on Cooley]

Actions by Cooley that likely led to this departure are included in the above posts and are also mentioned in the News-Sentinel article. Most problems stemmed from Cooley's close connections to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. THP and other problems are also mentioned here in a Tennessean article from December 2005.

Cooley was a consultant in regard to THP promotions. The N-S article notes that this "role [] came under closer scrutiny after Cooley had a speeding ticket fixed by a lieutenant in late 2004."

Later, the THP's top two officials and the Safety Commissioner resigned as reports came out of troopers with criminal backgrounds, additional allegations of ticket-fixing, rampant cronyism, conflicts of interest, and political arm-twisting.

Cooley's official resignation was simple. Conflicts of interest are simple, too.

Today's News-Sentinel article is here. A good review of Cooley's four years as Dep. Gov. is also found here in the Nashville Tennessean.

December 1, 2006 More on Hamblen County Debt

Yesterday, I posted information about the county's existing debt and the interest-only debt payments that have been made on that debt for the past several years.

The effect of interest-only debt payments has been largely ignored, but the impact is going to be felt soon in the form of higher taxes as the county moves toward taking on even more debt.

Current discussions center around taking on tens of millions of dollars in new debt at the very same time that the county finally starts to pay down the principal on the forty-million dollars of old debt.

How did we get in this situation?

As former Commissioner Dennis Alvis said, "We've been robbing Peter to pay Paul and now Peter's left town." Yep. Peter woke up and got out of Dodge before all his money was gone.

There are lots of factors behind the current debt. I've mentioned financial problems in Hamblen County in previous posts. There are plenty of problems out there.

False financial information is provided and goes unquestioned.

The Garbage Fund goes broke in early fiscal year 2003 and money is hurriedly switched around to keep it going.

The General Fund goes broke at the end of fiscal year 2003, and the new state auditors come in and help prop up the General Fund by dumping money that was in several small funds into the General (Government) Fund so the bills can be paid.

Later, tax rates are switched around with money taken from the Debt Fund and put into the General Fund---again to prop up the General Fund.

It's all very interconnected. But if you actually try to "follow the money trail" in Hamblen County, you will find that it's a very twisted and tightly-controlled shell game.

Now you see it. Now you don't. Now it's here. Now it's there. Now it's who knows where.

And if you are so unkind as to dare ask where your local tax dollars have gone, well, just don't try that. That's not what a good little taxpayer does.

The government needs more of your money--and no questions, please. The government is going to get that money from you---through property taxes, wheel taxes, sales taxes, special fees, or all of the above---and no questions, please.

November 29, 2006 Local taxes: Going UP!

If you could just sit on the outside and watch, local tax discussions would be entertaining.

But when higher tax payments constantly hit you in the pocketbook, it's no longer amusing.

The spectre of much higher taxes for Hamblen Countians is just a few months away. East and West High need repairs and new construction.

How to pay for that work raises questions about the county's total debt and debt repayment schedule.

Can the county pay for the proposed school construction without raising taxes? Hasn't the debt from the last major school construction program (1998) been paid down some?

Well, let's start with a few basics.

How much does the county owe?

About $40 million. (And that figure does not include the hospital debt that the county is responsible for if M-H Hospital is at some point not able to make its debt payments).

What was the $40 million spent on?

Most of the $40 million was spent on two new middle schools and renovations to about 14 other schools in the 1998 school building program. Some of the debt was for other county projects like the courthouse addition and jail annex, etc.

Haven't we paid off at least some of this debt by now?

Well, the answer would be yes IF the county had been paying principal and interest on this debt for the past 8 years (like most people do with a car loan or mortgage).

But the county didn't pay principal and interest on this debt over the past 8 years.

Instead, the county made interest-only payments. The County Mayor, Trustee, and Commissioners that were serving in 1998 set up this "interest-only" payment plan.

So it's 2006, and the county taxpayers still owe that same $40 million.

Now there is a request for more borrowing---- $20 million (+ or -) for school construction and who knows what else.

And if you live in the City of Morristown, you've got all that county debt coupled with your existing city debt and a bajillion-dollar city sewer construction bill that just keeps climbing.

And if a new 200 to 500-inmate jail is tossed in there, just hold on to your hats and your pocketbook.

When former Commissioner Dennis Alvis took office in 2002, he said: "We've been robbing Peter to pay Paul and now Peter has left town." I'm not sure that Commissioner Alvis was aware of how true those words were.

You always hear that everything is "for the children." That seems to be especially true with the county debt.

I thought you were supposed to try and leave your children something--and debt is not that something!

I guess I didn't get the "borrow, spend it, and pass the debt on" memo.

November 27, 2006 Remembering A Wonderful Thanksgiving

I hope that Thanksgiving was a warm, special holiday for all.

Ron and I visited with our families. Our son Will and his wife Dr. Katie Kanipe-Noe live in town, and our daughters Jenny and Katie were home on holiday break from school.

The food was great---as always.

At Thanksgiving dinner, my family has a traditional meal of turkey, cranberry sauce, olives, tossed salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, lima bean casserole, pumpkin and assorted other pies, and other goodies.

We each have a food "assignment." I am in charge of mashed potatoes. I am not a great cook and don't pretend to be. I guess you could say I am very much cooking-challenged.

Despite my cooking deficiency, there are two things I can make that usually turn out very nicely---mashed potatoes and chocolate chip cookies.

Now about mashed potatoes. A good mashing after cooking gets you started right. But the real secret to great mashed potatoes is plenty of butter. Isn't that a shocker!

Of course, be sure you add "just enough" milk, salt, and pepper, too.

Mash to a creamy consistency and you've got a tasty side dish that goes well with just about everything.

Packaged foods are nice for convenience, but I never use mashed potato mixes.

There is no comparison between real v. packaged when it comes to this item!

November 22, 2006 Happy Thanksgiving

I won't be blogging tomorrow, so Thanksgiving Day wishes are being sent to all readers today.

Food will be a part of the celebration, but the simple act of family and friends gathering together is what makes this holiday so special.

A time to be thankful as we remember that we live in a wonderful country.

A time to be thankful as we remember those who are serving this country in other lands.

A time to be thankful for our family and friends!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/pixpump2.htm

November 21, 2006 Tennessee Legislators: Make Mine a Double Scoop

Double-dipping. The tip on this Channel 5 info was found here.

One charge. Two payments. And some of those double payments come out of your taxpaying pocket!

Click here to read about Tennessee legislators who have been billing and collecting twice for one expense. Nothing like an all-expense paid trip where you collect those expenses twice!

And who stops this kind of abuse? Well, the people in charge of regulating campaign finances say they don't check for double-dipping.

Individuals have to do the "regulating" themselves and then file a sworn complaint before the Registry of Election Finance will take a glance at double-dipping.

It's good that there are news organizations (like Channel 5) who have investigative reporters who expose no-bid contracts, inflated charges for road work, highway patrol ticket-fixing and donations for promotions, conflicts of interest, and now double-dipping.

November 20, 2006 Knox Sheriff Hutchison: Lumpy may have disarmed a murder suspect

News from Knoxville is that the individual that County Commissioner Lumpy Lambert disarmed last Saturday is a suspect in an earlier murder in Knox County.

A young man appeared at Lumpy's car lot on November 11th and drew a gun on the commissioner.

Lumpy then drew out his own gun and disarmed the suspect who fled the car lot and was apprehended some time later by Knox law enforcement.

Now Sheriff Tim Hutchison is saying that the individual that Lumpy disarmed is a suspect in an earlier Knox County murder.

Read the full details about Quick Draw McLumpy in today's News-Sentinel article. The article includes praise for Lumpy from Sheriff Tim Hutchison and Hutchison's comment that Lumpy's quick response that day may have saved his life.

November 19, 2006 And the answer is...

There was a quick answer to Friday's Tennessee Trivia question.

Question: Who was Hamblen County named for and when was Hamblen County established?

Answer from JCS: Hezekiah Hamblen. 1870.

November 18, 2006 Three Suspects Charged in Sen. Tim Burchett Burglary

Three of the youths captured by State Senator Tim Burchett have now been charged with burglary in connection with a break-in at a warehouse where Burchett stores old motorcycles and parts.

Burchett staked out the warehouse and caught the youths on Wednesday, Nov. 15. See previous post.

Read the follow-up story in the Knoxville News-Sentinel here.

November 17, 2006 Tennessee Trivia Quiz

Time again for Tennessee Trivia!

Today's question has a decidedly local (Hamblen County) flavor.

When was Hamblen County established and for whom is it named?

E-mail answers to noe4accountability@yahoo.com

Have a great weekend!

November 16, 2006 State Sen. Tim Burchett Nabs Suspects

It looks like Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert is not the only elected official who has decided that "enough's enough" in the crime arena. Click here for the story on Lumpy.

Yesterday, State Senator Tim Burchett nabbed four youths in connection with a break-in at a warehouse where Burchett keeps old motorcycles and parts.

Three motorcycles and a camera had been stolen previously, so Burchett had been staking out the warehouse on his own.

Saying he is sick and tired of crime and of being a victim of crime, Burchett was armed yesterday and nabbed four young people at his warehouse on Amherst after they had allegedly broken into his warehouse.

Burchett held the four at bay---and fed them chocolate chip cookies---until officers arrived. Burchett said he would press charges because he figures the parents only punishment might be to take away the kids' "Gameboy" for an afternoon.

Click here for the full story in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel.

November 16, 2006 Dep. Gov. Cooley: Report from Knox Hearing

A federal judge will have to decide whether to open the TBI investigative file on Tennessee Dep. Governor Dave Cooley to an attorney for a THP officer who was fired. The file is said to contain 300+ pages.

One official who has looked at the file---and read every word---says that it contains nothing connected to the suit filed by Sgt. Farmer.

The attorney for Farmer maintains that the file still might be important because it may show a pattern of corruption and political retribution connected to Cooley and the THP.

Whether Cooley's file does or doesn't have a direct connection to the Farmer case, just the fact that the THP and Cooley are in the news again is not good for Gov. Bredesen. All this may lead to Cooley's resignation---at last.

Click here to read the N-S article. Click here, here, here, and here for my previous posts on Cooley and family.

November 15, 2006 Dep. Gov. Dave Cooley on the Way Out (Part I)

The latest saga on Tennessee Deputy Governor Dave Cooley is complicated and will take two posts. This is Part I. Scroll down to Part II.

I blogged on this story back on February 26, 2006 in State Conflicts of Interest: Money and Influence

COOLEY (PART I)

In the politically correct way of starting the ball rolling to get rid of someone tainted with scandal, Gov. Bredesen is quoted in a November 9th article in the Nashville Tennessean as saying that Dep. Gov. Dave Cooley is considering returning to private life though the governor would love to keep him.

The Tennessean article notes that Cooley has been a "controversial" figure during Bredesen's first term but Bredesen has stood by Cooley for four years.

Cooley has been a controversial figure during Bredesen's first term. He had a speeding ticket fixed with help from a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer, and he was involved in the politically charged promotions process at the patrol. Throughout the controversies Bredesen stood by Cooley, but there has been speculation for months that Cooley would leave after the election.

Cooley said Wednesday that he has not made a decision on his future but hopes to make one after getting some rest and talking to his family and the governor.

After less than a week of "rest" and "talking," another Tennessean article pops up. Guess what? Scroll down to Part II!

November 15, 2006 Dep. Gov. Dave Cooley on the Way Out (Part II)

Today's Tennessean has an article that may have a clue about the real reason that Tennessee Dep. Gov. Dave Cooley is now thinking about resigning his office and returning to private life. See Part I (above) and click on the link to the Tennessean's November 9th article about Cooley.

It looks like Cooley's real reason for thinking about resigning may be related to a federal hearing in Knoxville this morning concerning his infamous ticket-fixing episode.

Cooley is probably not "resting" and "talking" today because the ticket-fixing deal was only one of many instances where Cooley used and abused his office for personal and family gain. Click here for my February 11 post about Dave and Melanie and their actions. And here for another post on February 26.

What prompts all this?

Well, it seems that the TBI case file of Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley's fixed ticket investigation will be the topic of a federal hearing in Knoxville today.

A former Tennessee Highway Patrol officer, who is suing Cooley, the department and several of its former top leaders, wants access to the file. Bryan Farmer, a former lieutenant, claims in a federal lawsuit that he was harassed and forced from the department by the Democratic administration because he supported the Republican party. His attorney, Arthur F. Knight, wants to review the file to search for evidence that may bolster Farmer's case.

The state is withholding the file, claiming it is not a public record. State law says TBI investigative files are closed and not subject to inspection, except in a few narrow exceptions. One of those is in the face of a subpoena or court order. Cooley said last week he is considering leaving his position as Gov. Phil Bredesen's top deputy to return to the private sector.

Connect the dots....

Read the full text of today's November 15 article for more background on how Cooley's first act under Bredesen was to push to get his wife hired by the Department of Safety. And then she pushed to get her brother hired on. And then the ticket-fixing. And campaign donations for promotions. And then...

Conflicts of interest and personal and family gain are the driving forces behind far too many elected officials. In fact, they have become such a staple of government that the public---and elected officials--- just nod and go on.

November 14, 2006 Sunrise and Red Trees in Hamblen County

Yes, I'm still on a nature/photography kick.

I took the red trees all in a row picture in the parking lot next to Taco John's about a week ago.

I took the sunrise shot on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11th.

November 14, 2006 Quick Draw McLumpy

Click here to check out blogging State Rep. Stacey Campfield's second post for November 12.

Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert made news as a result of his "quick" handling of a potential robber at his car lot.

November 11, 2006 Veterans Day

Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima.

In four days of fighting, Easy Company had 40% casualties.

American soldiers raise the Flag on February 23, 1945.

November 11 is Veterans Day.

Let us never forget.

The American Soldier

It is the soldier, not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag,

And whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.

November 9, 2006 What do we do now?

Yesterday, I mentioned the Republican Party's 1994 Contract with America and how the Republican Party, of which I am a member, has gradually moved away from the beliefs and goals of this statement.

So often we see people running for office, and they have strong convictions, and we vote for them, and we hope against hope that these are people who will actually do what they say and remain true to their campaign statements.

And time after time, we are disappointed. Once in office, candidates too often forget and abandon the principles and promises that got them elected because it is so much easier to go along than to stand up and remain faithful to the people who elected them.

Sadly, elected officials often know what is going on around them, but they prefer to look the other way---perfect examples on the national level are the Mark Foley (Republican) scandal and the Sandy Berger (Democrat) scandal.

And there are plenty of examples on the local level [see my posts (I-IV) of June 25] where officials know what is going on, but they will not authorize an investigation or even ask a question.

I will have much more on the local situation in future posts--because Hamblen County is rapidly moving toward a huge tax increase due to fiscal mismanagement, cover-ups, and waste.

But I digress. Back to the Contract with America. To me, the framework of the Contract with America is a stated plan--and a good one-- for an open and accountable government. And these conservative principles are good general guidelines on the state and local level as well.

FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-
line budgeting.

In looking back at the 2006 election, the Republican problem was one of forgetting conservative principles and wandering in a political wilderness, worrying about the next election instead of worrying about the country.

Republicans were punished not for their conservative principles, but because they abandoned their conservative principles and instead became tied to pork-barrel spending, personal scandals, no-bid contracts, political lobbying scandals, huge budget deficits, and an overall lack of accountability.

Basic conservative principles, the eight guiding principles of the Contract with America, were forgotten.

But with every cloud, there is a silver lining.

Republicans can return to the values, commitment, and passion that are embodied in the conservative cause or they can continue to wander aimlessly and wonder what happened.

And, no, the conservative cause is not the sole possession of Republicans. Democrats and Independents who believe that open, honest, and accountable government is best can, and do, advance conservatism.

Republicans don't "own" conservatism by any means, but over the years more Republicans than Democrats (especially at the leadership level) have been identified as conservatives.

In the final analysis, probably no one belongs totally and completely in a conservative or liberal box.

Many of the Democrats who won on November 7 tended to be more moderate and far less "liberal" than the Democrat leadership as exemplified by Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, and others.

The 2006 election, on the national level, may be signaling a shift in the parties and in people. Liberals are becoming more moderate, and some of these moderates even show certain conservative tendencies at times, such as when they come out in favor of 2nd amendment rights and fiscal restraint.

Time will tell whether the newly-elected moderate Democrats are able to effect change in the liberal Democrat leadership or whether the Democrat leadership whips the new Representatives and Senators into the liberal mold.

Time will also tell whether the Republicans, after somber reflection, decide to return to their conservative roots and once again stand as a party of principle or whether the Contract with America was just so much fluff.

My prediction and my hope is that all Republicans will again stand on principle. And I salute those who never abandoned their principles.

I want to know where the parties really stand. And I want to see actions that match the words.

November 8, 2006 What does it all mean?

The Election is over. Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives and made inroads into the U. S. Senate. [UPDATE: After the final count in two previously undecided races, the Democrats also have a majority (51-49) in the Senate].

A message was sent and it was heard-- by the President, by Republican leaders, and by Republicans everywhere who were listening.

Irap was certainly part of the message.

In response, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resigned today and will be replaced by former CIA Director Robert Gates.

The other part of the message, in my opinion, lies in a general failure of the Republican Party and many of those who call themselves "Republicans" to stand on principles.

The Republican revolution of 1994 with its well-thought out and clearly expressed ideals of fiscal responsibility and less government slowly went by the wayside during the past 12 years as the power of office became intoxicating.

Some of the leaders of the Republican revolution became less concerned with government service and more concerned with self-service.

Unfortunately, the 1994 Republican Contract With America became little more than meaningless words.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

This is true in all times and of all political groups.

It applies to Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Communists, Tories, Laborites, whatever. This is not a slam on Republicans. It is simply a statement of fact about anyone or any party having absolute power, and it applies to the politics of all countries.

The best thing that can happen now is that the wake-up call will result in self-examination and serious reflection on the part of the political parties in America. Hopefully, true statesmen will come forward to replace the politicians---of which we have far too many.

I heard a friend today describe the difference between politicians and statesmen.

The politician is always thinking of the next election. The statesman is always thinking of the next generation.

November 7, 2006 Election Day

If the people fail to vote, a government will be developed which is not their government... The whole system of American Government rests on the ballot box. Unless citizens perform their duties there, such a system of government is doomed to failure.

-President Calvin Coolidge

He was nicknamed "Silent Cal," but his words here speak eloquently to the importance and to the duty of exercising our precious right to vote and to be heard.

"Early voting" has been heavy.

If you didn't vote early and decided to wait until Election Day, this is it.

Please vote--rain or shine!

November 3, 2006 The Picture Seen Around the World

John Kerry's remarks about the U.S. military have sparked a firestorm of comments and a belated apology from Kerry himself.

The Nashville Tennessean ran into a firestorm of comments itself after it ran an editorial supporting Kerry on Nov. 2. The Tennessean, like Kerry, followed up with an apology on Nov. 3.

A lot of people have seen the picture shown above of U.S. soldiers holding a banner, mockingly asking "Jon Carry" to "halp" get them out of "Irak."

If you click on the links shown below, you will not only see the picture again, but you will also be able to read some background about the soldiers who created the banner that has become the picture seen around the world.

More about the Minnesota soldiers and banner holders can be found here and here.

November 3, 2006 The Tennessean Defends Kerry's Comments

The Nashville Tennessean ran an editorial yesterday in support of John Kerry and Kerry's recent statement/joke (pick one) about the U.S. Military in Iraq.

The response from Tennessean readers was "swift" (no pun intended) and critical of both Kerry and of the paper.

Click here on Truth in Kerry's Remark to read the Nov. 2 editorial and the numerous online comments (8+ pages of reader comments) that appear at the end of the original editorial.

Today the Tennessean is explaining its poor choice of words in a follow-up editorial.

Click on Sometimes Words Can Fail Us to read the Tennessean's Nov. 3 editorial apology--an apology/explanation that is followed by letters to the editor that were sent in response to the original Nov. 2 editorial. There are also more online comments at the end of the letters.

November 2, 2006 Let's Say Thanks

Xerox has a site that lets you select a "thank you" card and a message to send to an American serviceman in Iraq.

I picked a card that had been designed by a young Tennessee student. Then I picked a message, signed it, and sent it. I encourage others to do the same.

Just go to http://www.letssaythanks.com/ and follow the directions. Over 3.7 million messages have already gone out!

November 1, 2006 Reinhardt Asks for Clarification of Election Law

In several posts at the end of September (26th, 27th, and 29th), I reported on the "Election Contest" filed by former Commissioners Edwin Osborne and Bobby Reinhardt after the August 3 Election.

In official and unofficial Election Reports handed out on Election Night, there were numerous mathematical oddities and conincidences as described at the Election Contest trial in September.

Ultimately, a Special Master (former Criminal Court Judge Eddie Beckner) was appointed. Beckner examined the machines and also reviewed the absentee and paper ballots cast in the District 1 race (Osborne-Lebel) and the District 4 race (Reinhardt-Sexton).

Subsequently, the vote count and the winners in both races (Lebel and Sexton) were left as originally reported.

Now an appeal has been filed by Bobby Reinhardt with the Trial Court and with the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

In addition, a direct appeal has been made to the Tennessee Supreme Court, seeking an immediate, quick, and final ruling on interpretation of state law regarding the conduct of early voting.

Reinhardt states that T.C.A. 2-6-104 is "plain and unambiguous."

2-6-104. Voting machines for early voting.
(a) A county election commission may use voting machines for early voting. The county election commission shall choose one (1) of the following options for its method of early voting.
(1) Place all races on a machine ballot;
(2) Place some of the races on a machine ballot and part of the races on a paper ballot; or
(3) Place all races on a paper ballot.

In early voting, votes in the District 4 race were cast partly by machine ballots and partly by paper ballots (with two paper ballots being cast).

Chancellor Corlew noted the problematic wording of the statute and said that he "recognized that the interpretation of T.C.A. 2-6-104 is a matter on which reasonable minds can differ...."

The Chancellor chose not to throw out the two paper ballots cast during early voting in the Reinhardt-Sexton race, saying that the voters who cast the paper ballots during early voting would have proceeded to vote by machine (had they not been given the paper ballots) and thus the results of the race would have been the same.

Reinhardt maintains that the statute is "plain and unambiguous" and that only one interpretation of the statute---as currently written--- can be reached. As a result, Reinhardt wants the two paper ballots cast in early voting in District 4 to be discarded as "having been illegally cast" and the District 4 election declared either void or a mathematical tie.

October 29, 2006 A Special Tree

Trees.
Trees.
Trees.
This beauty glows.
T
R
E
E
S

October 29, 2006 Fall Back!

Fall is a beautiful time of year.

Leaves on the trees are brilliant colors of red, orange, yellow, gold, brown, and every shade in-between.

East Tennessee is special. The beauty of Nature is all around.

While you enjoy the colorful fall leaves, remember to turn all your clocks back one hour ("fall back") as we change from Daylight Savings Time to Eastern Standard Time.

October 28, 2006 County Building Projects and Accountability

Accountability is being able to say how much you spent, what you spent it on, and where the money came from.

I asked the county Finance Department in early August for accountability for taxpayer money---millions of dollars---spent on the jail annex, courthouse addition, children's library, dental clinic, justice center HVAC, justice center roof, justice center generator, etc.

Weeks passed with no response. So I asked then-Chairman of the Commission (Joe Spoone) to inquire about the requested information. Joe responded publicly at the August meeting of the Commission that he had been told by Finance Director Nicole Epps that a report would be provided to the commission by August 31, 2006.


Well, no report was provided on August 31, 2006.

And now-- over 10 weeks after the request for accountability was first made-- still no report has been provided.

Obviously, if the County Mayor and his Finance Department know what has been spent and where all the money came from, they need to provide that information.

If the County Mayor and his Finance Department don't know what was spent on each project and where the money came from, then they need to be upfront and admit that instead of saying they will provide a report and then stonewalling.

Hopefully, Commission Chair Stancil Ford and other commissioners (Baker, Bruce, Collins, Fullington, Harville, Parker, Phillips, Spoone) who were on the commission when the 5-year plans were adopted or when millions in capital expenditures were made will be able to get a report and accountability for these dollars.

Five of the new commissioners (Lebel, Massey, Sexton, Swann, and Wampler) did not vote for the original plans or subsequent expenditures, but these new commissioners are businessmen and one of them is an accountant (Swann).

Business people and accountants know how important it is to know how much has been spent on a building project and where the money came from.

With the last capital project coming up ---the painting of the courthouse--- there should be accountability for all capital spending to date.

I checked again with Joe Spoone on October 19 about accountability for these funds. He said he that he didn't know why a report on the capital spending hadn't already been provided.

It's now October 28 and there is still no accountability and no report for the total spent on each building project and where the total spent came from (bond money or other sources).

Before new requests for capital spending are voted on and before spending on the last of the "old" capital projects is approved (the courthouse painting), it sure would be nice to know that the County Mayor and his Finance Department are able to account for the millions spent on county buildings and improvements.

There are two posts today...scroll down to read the first October 28 post.

October 28, 2006 Why haven't there been posts for a month?

The answer to the title of this post is simple.

I decided to sit back for a while and watch Hamblen County government and officials in action without any blog comments.

Now, after watching for a month, I will be posting and offering comments and information about what's going on.

It is obvious that multi-million dollar expenditures are being pushed rapidly to the forefront and, I suspect, are headed for quick public votes.

Quick decisions are intended to make it all a "done deal" as soon as possible with little (public) discussion and few (public) questions.

Of course, public questions about where public money is going don't get answered anyway (see my other October 28 post), so it is easy to understand why few questions are asked.

Still...this blog will provide information and let Hamblen Countians know why their local taxes (property, sales, wheel, etc.) and fees are headed for the roof.

Hang on! It's going to be an expensive ride over the next four years.

September 29, 2006 Change in Date for Selection of Special Master

There has been a change in the date/deadline for Selection of a Special Master in the Election Contest filed by Edwin Osborne and Bobby Reinhardt.

Scroll down to see previous posts of September 26 and 27 for background on the Election Contest and trial testimony.

The Master will supervise the court-ordered recount in County Commission race District 1 (Osborne v. Lebel) and District 4 (Reinhardt v. Sexton).

The Master will also examine the Microvote voting machines (new and old) in Hamblen County.

The new date or deadline for selection of the Master is apparently October 4. [Originally, a Saturday, September 30, date was shown in the Memorandum Opinion. ]

Expect the recount of machine and paper ballots to proceed quickly once the Master is appointed by the Chancellor since the machines have to be ready to go for the November election.

September 27, 2006 Hamblen County Election (III)

The previous posts (I) and (II) reported the chancellor's ruling in the Election Contest filed by Edwin Osborne and Bobby Reinhardt.

I attended the September 22 trial. It was an excellent pressentation of evidence and testimony about what happened on Aug. 3 during vote-counting.

County Commissioner Nancy Phillips was there in the morning, and County Mayor David Purkey was there at different times during the day.

Since I did not run for re-election, I was not at the Courthouse after the polls closed on Aug. 3.

At the trial, the atmosphere was referred to as a "zoo." Several people who were there agreed with that assessment. A witness testifying on behalf of the Election Commission stated that it was "controlled chaos."

If you are regular blog reader, you know that numbers are important to me---see the July 8, 2005, post where I spotted and got corrected the $1 million dollar mistake by the state in setting the county's certified tax rate in 2005.

Numbers were important in the Election Contest trials. Numbers, documents, and vote tallies that came out of the Election Commission Office on August 3 were put into evidence.

Two documents were unusual. One said that 95% of the precincts had reported and that total of 10,945 votes had been cast. Another document said that 100% of the precincts had reported and 10,620 votes had been cast. There is a problem here---a computer glitch, human error, or some other problem.

Exhibit 7 (which was retrieved for Commissioner Osborne from a recycling box by Election Administrator Wanda Neal) showed that 731 votes were cast in District 1 and 375 were cast in District 4.

Exhibit 5, however, showed that 466 votes were cast in District 1, and 319 were cast in District 4.

How do you go from a report of 731 votes cast to a report of only 466 votes cast? How do you go from 375 votes cast to only 319 votes cast?

The explanation, hopefully, will come from the Special Master who will conduct the recount, check the machines, and check the paper ballots.

Perhaps the contradictory documents and totals that were put out at various times may be explained by human error, plain old mistakes, transposition of numbers, stress and rushing.

Whatever the explanation of the differing information on the reports that were provided that night, events such as this should be resolved.

A recount and an examination of the machines should answer many of the questions about the "controlled chaos" of August 3.

With electronic data and computerization, there needs to be some understanding and an explanation of how one set of numbers came out of the machines at one point in time and another smaller set of numbers came out later.

It seems plausible to have smaller vote totals during the early steps of the counting process and then larger vote totals later on as all votes are counted.

It is difficult, however, to understand how you can have larger vote totals in the early part of the counting process and then smaller vote totals in the end.