Inside TN: State rep. says organized retail crime a problem in Knoxville

From left: becker, Zachary, Daniel

Organized retail crime, a possible gas tax increase and matters tied to higher education.

Those are just a handful of the issues to be addressed during Sunday’s edition of “Inside Tennessee” on WBIR 10News.

The guests are 14^th District state Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, and 18^th District state Rep. Martin Daniel, R-Knoxville.

The discussion comes as the General Assembly plans to convene again on Jan. 10.

At the top of the list for Zachary is passing an “organized retail crime” bill, something he’s crafted with local law enforcement, Home Depot and other lawmakers.

“Most people don’t realize that Knoxville is the No. 1 city in the nation for gift card theft and abuse,” he said. “It’s truly organized retail crime. You’ll have two people go to a Home Depot. One person goes in and steals a blower and comes out, and the other person goes in and returns it. So, the state loses tax dollars.”

The person who returns the item will get a gift card from the store which can be sold on the secondary market.

Zachary noted that arrests authorities made the week before Christmas netted roughly $50,000 in stolen merchandise.

He said most of the retail crime happens in West Knox County, particularly the Turkey Creek shopping complex because of its easy access to the interstate. 

The National Retail Federation notes that such crimes usually include a criminal enterprise employing individuals to steal large quantities of merchandise from a number of stores, and then a fencing operations coverts the items into cash. The items also can be sold online, at flea markets or even to other retailers.

Zachary and Daniel also said keeping an eye on the state’s $925 million budgetary surplus and whether to raise the state’s gas tax also will be two key issues this year.

“Everything depends on the details but the people of the district are telling me transportation is so important for business, tourism and safety . . . and they’re telling me they’re OK for up to a 10 cent per gallon tax increase,” said Daniel, adding that cars that use diesel fuel, batteries and hybrids “need to be brought in to pay their fair share.”

Zachary added that he recently polled his district and that 55 percent of the residents were opposed to an increase.

The tax increase, proposed by Gov. Bill Haslam, would help pay for some $6 billion in transportation infrastructure backlog.

In addition, Martin said he wants to reduce regulations “that impact individuals and businesses,” and he wants to call for an “efficiency audit” for higher education across the state.

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

Panelists include attorney Don Bosch, governmental relations expert Susan Williams and Theotis Robinson Jr., retired vice president of equity and diversity of the University of Tennessee system.

WBIR Anchor John Becker serves as the show’s moderator.

Zachary to be sworn in at church

Zachary

The Knox County Commission on Monday (during its regularly scheduled voting meeting at the City County Building) will appoint Jason Zachary to the 14th District state House seat, since the Republican has no opposition in the general election. He will then be sworn-in at 6:30 p.m.

That will take place at First Baptist Concord on Kingston Pike. Speaker of the House Beth Harwell will do the honors.

Zachary to take House seat early

Jason Zachary

The general election is still more than a month away, but Republican primary winner Jason Zachary is expected to take the 14th District House seat early.

Since no Democrats qualified to run for the post, Zachary – who won the Aug. 12 primary – is all but assured the victory in September.

State law gives the Knox County Commission the power to fill the position in the interim, something board members said they plan to do during next Monday’s regular meeting and after a public hearing.

They will discuss the issue further during today’s work session.

Commissioners told WBIR 10News that in case something came up between now and Sept. 29 that would require action by the Tennessee General Assembly, they’d want someone in the position.

Zachary, a local businessman, defeated school board member Karen Carson to claim the seat.

During the race, the candidates clearly differentiated themselves on the question of funding for Insure Tennessee, Gov. Haslam's proposal to fill a gap in health care coverage among lower income groups.

Carson, a pediatric nurse, supported it. Zachary bluntly opposed pursuing such a proposal.

Last year, Zachary ran a spirited, yet unsuccessful, race in defeat against longtime U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.

The seat opened up after Ryan Haynes resigned in the spring to become the state GOP chairman.

Zachary wins state for House seat

Carson, left, Zachary, right

Republican Jason Zachary defeated fellow Republican Karen Carson on Wednesday to effectively claim the 14th District Tennessee House seat, according to unofficial results from the Knox County Election Commission.

Zachary, a businessman, and Carson, a Knox County school board member, competed in the GOP primary, but no Democrat is running for the seat so Wednesday's results amounted to a winner-take-all race. The general election is Sept. 29.

The final overall return for the West Knox County district: 2,397 for Zachary and 1,742 for Carson. That worked out to be 58 percent for Zachary and 42 percent for Carson.

The total includes early and absentee votes, where returns showed 1,544 votes cast for Zachary and 1,061 for Carson, according to unofficial results.

Zachary took the majority of votes cast in the district's seven precincts Wednesday.

For example, Zachary surpassed Carson in precincts the covered the Concord and Farragut areas. Carson outdrew him in precincts that included the Rocky Hill and A.L. Lotts areas, figures showed.

Republican state Rep. Ryan Haynes resigned the 14th District seat in the spring to become state GOP chairman.

With some 39,100 eligible voters in the district, the turnout represented just a fraction of those who could vote.

During the race, the candidates clearly differentiated themselves on the question of funding for Insure Tennessee, Gov. Haslam's proposal to fill a gap in health care coverage among lower income groups. Carson, a pediatric nurse, supported it. Zachary bluntly opposed pursuing such a proposal.

Last year, Zachary ran a spirited race in defeat against longtime U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.

West Knox voters decide Wednesday who will hold 14th Dist. House seat

Carson, left, Zachary, right

Wednesday night voters will decide who represents Farragut and most of Southwest Knox County in the state House.

The Republican primary election between Knox County school board member Karen Carson and local businessman Jason Zachary wraps up Wednesday. The general election is Sept. 29, but because no Democrat qualified to run, tomorrow night’s winner is all but assured the seat when the Tennessee General Assembly meets again in January.

CARSON: Find out more about the candidate

ZACHARY: Find out more about the candidate

Turnout for this race hasn’t been great.

Early voting represented a small fraction of the almost 39,100 eligible district voters. In all, 2,631 cast early votes. That also included 95 people who cast absentee ballots.

The seat was formerly held by Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, who stepped down to take over the state GOP.

Polls are open tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Here's a list of the locations:

• Farragut Middle School – Precinct 65 – 200 West End Avenue, 37934
• Farragut High School – Precincts 66N & 66S – 11237 Kingston Pike, 37934
• A.L. Lotts Elementary School – Precinct 69N – 9320 Westland Drive, 37922
• Bluegrass Elementary School –Precinct 69S – 8901 Bluegrass Road, 37922
• Rocky Hill Elementary School – Precinct 71 – 1200 Morrell Road, 37919
• Mount Olive Elementary School – Precinct 89 – 2507 Maryville Pike, 37920

Poor turnout in early voting for 14th Dist. House seat to replace Haynes

Carson, left, Zachary, right

Early voting wrapped up Friday with 2,631 voters going to the polls early to choose a GOP candidate to represent the state House's 14th District, according to the Knox County election administrator.

The primary election between Karen Carson and Jason Zachary is Aug. 12. The general election is Sept. 29, but no Democrat is running in the race.

The West Knox County district formerly was represented by Republican Ryan Haynes. There were three early voting sites, one at the City County Building, far from the actual district.

Early voting turnout represented a small fraction of  the almost 39,100 eligible district voters. It included 95 people who cast absentee ballots, according to Cliff Rodgers, election administrator.

Carson is a Knox County school board member. Zachary is a small businessman who ran a competitive race last year against U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.

The seat was formerly held by Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, who stepped down to take over the state GOP.

Aug. 6 date for House seat debate

Carson, left, Zachary, right

The West Knox Republican Club will be hosting the sole debate between the two candidates seeking the 14th District Republican nomination in the upcoming special election.

The 14th District General Assembly seat was vacated by Ryan Haynes earlier this year after he was appointed as Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. The two candidates vying for the seat are Karen Carson, a nurse and Knox County School Board member, and Jason Zachary, a local small business owner. Early voting will take place July 23rd through August 7th, and Election Day is August 12th.

The Republican Primary Debate will take place on Thursday August 6, 2015 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Farragut Town Hall board room located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive, Farragut, Tennessee 37934. The event is free and open to the public. Doors to the board room will open at 6:15 p.m. and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The local media is encouraged to attend.

The debate will be moderated by Alexander Waters, the president of the West Knox Republican club, a local attorney with Long, Ragsdale & Waters, P.C. and a regular panelist on Fox43’s “Heavy Hitter” segment.

The candidates will be given three minutes for an opening statement. Each candidate will be given two  minutes to answer each question asked by the moderator and one minute of rebuttal time. At the conclusion of the questioning period, each candidate will given two minutes to give a closing statement. No questions will be taken from the audience.

The West Knox Republican Club hopes that many members of the 14th District, Farragut and Knox County communities will attend the debate. The Club has reached out to various local Republican clubs, including the Farragut-Concord Republican Club, as well as nonpartisan groups such as the Knoxville Chamber, Farragut Chamber, Realtors Association and League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County to promote the event.

“The West Knox Republican Club is very excited to host this political debate between two active Republican candidates,” said Alexander Waters. “We look forward to facilitating a civil discourse with the candidates on topics important to the 14th District and East Tennessee. We hope the debate will not only educate the community but encourage higher voter turn-out in this crucial election.”

Only two GOP qualified to run for state House seat vacated by Haynes

Carson, left, Zachary, right

A Knox County Board school board member and long-time nurse, and a Knoxville business owner are the only two candidates who will vie for the open state House seat recently vacated by Ryan Haynes.

Both candidates are Republican and no Democrats qualified by Thursday's noon deadline.

That means, barring a major upset by a write-in candidate in the fall, the overall election will be more than likely determined during the Aug. 12 primary.

(The special general election will be Sept. 29, coinciding with the city of Knoxville primary.)

Haynes resigned from the West Knox County 14th District state Rep. seat in late May to serve as the state GOP chairman.

Here's a snapshot of the candidates:

Karen Carson: A pediatric nurse for 35 years, who works at East Tennessee Children's Hospital, she has served on the Knox County Board of Education since 2004. Her website says Carson has been recognized as the Tennessee parent Teacher Association's "Outstanding School Board Representative of the Year" three times. She and her family are members of Concord United Methodist Church. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of East Tennessee. She and her husband have been married for 30 years and have three children.

Jason Zachary: Owns Americomm, a small telecommunications firm founded by his family two decades ago. He serves as a deacon at the Farragut Initiative at First Baptist Concord, according to his website. He also serves on the board of International Sports Consulting, and has worked with the Center for Christian Statesmanship on Capitol Hill since last summer. He has been married to his wife for 16 years and has one child. Zachary, drummed up a lot of support from the tea party last year in an unsuccessful campaign to unseat long-time U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.