'Inside Tennessee' to focus on presidential race aftermath

A super panel of local Democrats and Republicans on Sunday’s edition of “Inside Tennessee” on WBIR 10News will touch on election night 2016 and the aftermath of the presidential race.

The group includes Democrats Dennis Francis,Don Bosch and Billy Stair, and Republicans Susan Williams, Elaine Davis and Lance Baker.

The subject? Breaking down an election in which Republican candidate Donald Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to become the nation’s 45^th president.

Panelists note that all but three counties in Tennessee went to Trump with some 2.3 million citizens statewide voting. Knox County had a record turnout with 184,000 residents casting ballots.

The 30-minute political and public affairs program, which was taped Wednesday, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WBIR.

Anchor John Becker serves as the show’s moderator.

'Inside Tennessee' debates vouchers

Tune in at 9:30 a.m. Sunday (Channel 10, WBIR of course) to catch the latest Inside Tennessee program and the discussion we had about the merits of school choice in the state.

The guest were Justin Owen, president and CEO of the Beacon Center, and Joan Grim, a UTK professor and voucher skeptic. Myself, local attorney Dennis Francis and PR/consultant Mike Cohen joined the panel.

This was one of the more lively episodes and there was some good back and forth banter between Grim and Owen, as well as between Francis, a Democrat, and Cohen, a Republican.

Course that meant we weren't able to ask everything we had planned, but, well, whatever . . . .

Tune in. Good stuff.

Kaousias to join election commish

State Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, has nominated Tammy Kaousias, to replace Dennis Francis on the Knox County Election Commission. She's expected to get the gig.

In addition, official are set to reappoint the other members: Democrat Cassandra Stuart and Republicans Chris Heagerty, Bob Bowman, Rob McNutt.

Francis had long said he didn't plan to seek reappointment.

I don't know a whole lot about Kaousias, other than a couple folks I talked to spoke highly of her. She's apparently a yoga enthusiast and a long-time attorney, who used to handle legal affairs for Ruby Tuesday and now operates a solo practice.

She graduated from the University of Tennessee.

“I've known Tammy for over 15 years,” Bowman said. “She's very bright and a hardworking attorney, and I look forward to working with her on the commission.”

The commission hasn't set a date to meet yet, but will get together before April 19. At that point, they'll pick officers and select a county elections administrator. (Hint: It's going to be Cliff Rodgers.)

Francis leaving election commission

Dennis Francis (photo by Metro Pulse)

Denis Francis is apparently stepping down from the Knox County Election Commission when his term ends in two months. As you might recall, Francis, a local attorney, was appointed to serve out the term for the seat held by Democrat Cameron Brooks, who left in April 2011 to take a new job (but is apparently back, so that didn't last long, but I digress.)

According to former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe, who writes a column over at the Shopper, State Rep. Gloria Johnson will make a recommendation for his replacement to the state Election Commission.

Ashe also said that former Knox County Commissioner Mark Harmon and attorney Tammy Kaousias are possible replacements.

I talked to Dennis a little while ago and he said that he doesn't want to stay on board. He said representing the Sevier County Election Commission and dealing with that whole Pigeon Forge liquor mess is keeping him busy.

Plus, he said: “I'm not having that much fun. They horse- (insert bad word here) Mackay, so it's hard to get warm and fuzzy with them.”

Heh. Hahahaha. Nice!

Dennis was referring to commission's April 2011 meeting when, voting along party lines, the commission fired Greg Mackay, the longtime elections administrator, and one of Dennis' close friends.

I asked him: “It's cool, I use that quote, right?”

Dennis: “I've told them that so many times, one more would probably be redundant.”

Hah.