Knox County Clerk apologizes for 'offensive' Facebook posts

Foster Arnett Jr

Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett Jr on Monday apologized for sharing on his personal Facebook page what the local Democratic Party called "highly offensive, hateful views."

The two-term Republican, who deactivated the private social media account, also told critics who might consider any ethics investigations against him to "bring it."

Arnett said the postings, which he removed soon after they were made public, came in the wake of the July 16 mass shootings at a Chattanooga military center that resulted in the deaths of four U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy sailor.

Arnett said he was "deeply moved" and in the day that followed he "shared some things" on his Facebook page that went viral.

"If those comments offended someone, I'm sorry," Arnett told WBIR 10News on Monday.

The posts criticized politicians including President Barack Obama and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

One post shared on his page used a derogatory term for Muslims. Another called people who voted twice for Obama "stupid."

And one stated: "Ladies – If your (sic) man doesn't know how to fire a weapon, you have a girlfriend."

Read the complete story RIGHT HERE.

Burchett says he's not longer accepting campaign contributions

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who will not face an opponent in his re-election bid, announced today on his Facebook page that he will not be accepting anymore contributions for this election.

The mayor said at this point he’s raised “just south of $40,000.”

Here’s his post: 

I am announcing today that, since I have no opposition in either the primary or general elections, I will no longer be accepting campaign contributions for my re-election race.

I am grateful to every person who has contributed to my campaign for re-election so far. Because of your generosity, I feel I now have the money I need for "Get Out the Vote" efforts and any volunteer appreciation activities.

I would much rather know that any money a supporter might have given me would instead be placed into an offering plate or used for a family's Saturday trip to Dollywood.

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me, and please know that even though I have no opposition, I will be working hard to encourage every Knox County voter to go to the polls.

Recent cash mob hits MSNBC, Facebook

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett's cash mob has garnered a little bit of national attention. MSNBC picked up the story. You can find that by clicking right smack here.

Also, note, however, that it appears the county didn't oblige by the suggested rules of the cash-mob society, or whatever.

Rule No. 8 states: The business (in the case Emery's 5 & 10 on Chapman Highway) must be within one block of a locally-owned watering hole.

Rule No. 9 states: Cash Mobbers must join us for celebratory drinks after the successful mob.

(Starting to wonder if soccer hooligans came up with this whole cash mob thing.)

Anyhoo, the local cash mob Facebook page has also garnered a little bit of activity after Burchett revealed that his chief of staff, Potentate Rice, thought the event was a bad idea.

Course, as one commenter said: Rice rarely agrees with anything on MSNCB

Heh.

'Like' law firm, help the Salvation Army

Local law firm Ralph Brown and Associates will donate $1 to the Salvation Army (up to $5,000) for every "like" the firm receives on its Facebook page.

Yeah, it's corny. But what the heck. Once they get 5,000 likes and donate the coin, you can always "unlike" them. Heh.

So, check it out at facebook.com/rbrownlawyers

Right now, the firm has about 580 hits, so that's $580 in coin.

Think of it as your good deed for the day. And go "like" a lawyer.

Duncan takes credit for Carter, raises

In his never-ending quest to collect and deposit every check the county has, Knox County Trustee John “Triple 3” Duncan has outdone himself.

Cause now he is taking credit for the administration's plan to build the Carter community a new elementary school and give employees raises beginning on Jan. 1.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who spearheaded both moves, called the Carter claim “ridiculous”. Then he chuckled in disbelief.

Here's the deal and how all this started:

Earlier this month, Duncan posted the following on Facebook:

"I'm so proud of the work of my staff! We have operated at 49% under last year's budget, yet revenues are at an all time high. I was pleased to hear State Officials remark that the Knox County Trustee's Office is the model for all others in the State to follow."

Now, I'm reading this and scratching my head. Cause this sounds a little misleading. (The 49 percent part – I just figure his aunt is the “state officials” he refers to. Heh.)

So, I sent him an email, asking what's up.

Here's his response:

Last year, the office had spent $235,744 in operating costs at this point. This year, we have spent $121,151.

For the whole year, we are now working with a $272,354 budget, as opposed to $387,735 last year.

We're trying to run everything as lean as possible and have tried to cut everything from contracted services to supplies and materials. So far, we've been very successful.

Despite the cuts, collections are higher than they've ever been. Last year, we set a new record for revenues, which allowed the Mayor and Commission to give employee raises and build Carter a new elementary school. This year, we have outpaced that number by over $1.8 million at this point.

Couple things here. Apparently, the salary suit the Trustee Office files each year – you know that lawsuit that is the budget for salaries – doesn't count as a “budget” budget. So, yes, I suppose the Trustee's Office is operating “at 49 percent under last year's budget” if all you're talking about is the money used to buy office supplies. Because that's pretty much the budget Duncan refers to.

The salaries are something else.

The other thing: You'll note the trustee says his office “set a new record for revenues” that “allowed” the county to build the Carter community a new elementary school.

Uh, that's not exactly how some other folks who work over there in the Deathstar see it.

The county could have collected $5 this year, and it was still going to build a new school.

As it stands, the administration has designated $11 million of the $13.9 million it needs to build the school.

Here's how county is paying for the new school (information courtesy of the finance department):

• School Board contribution: $2.5 million
• E-911 District early repayment for the center facility: $3.4 million
• Solway land sale: $2 million
• City repayment for Young-Williams Animal Center: $943,819
• SEC settlement: $892,551
• Marble Alley – initial four parcels: $771,000
• Bond refinancing 2011-12 – county's share of savings: $511,685
  

The bill comes due in late spring 2013.

As for whether Duncan played a role in county employee raises? He could make a case for that. So, too, could the economy. And Burchett. And all the people who paid their bills on time.