Commish picks Jenkins for magistrate

The Knox County Commission on Monday picked local attorney and former Knox County GOP chairman Ray Jenkins to serve as one of five judicial commissioners, replacing Richard Major who stepped down to work as incoming Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond’s second-in-command.

Jenkins currently serves as a substitute magistrate and has practiced law for more than 16 years. He will start Aug. 26.

The county has five judicial commissioners, or magistrates, who work 36 hours per week on a rotating schedule. The position pays around $65,000 to review applications for warrants and summonses and conduct the initial court appearances of prisoners via closed-circuit television.

Stokes release 'fun campaign' video

The Campaign for Billy "Pops" Stokes, who is running for the Div. I Circuirt Court Judge seat, sent over a note earlier, this morning, letting me know that supporters have put together a new video.

It said, in part, that "with the weekend coming up and campaigns always feeling the need to be so series, the Stokes campaign put together a little campaign video to lighten the mood. Most are Billy's grandkids.

Cool.

You can find it below.



In the meantime, early voting runs through May 1. Stokes will face Krisit Davis and Ray Jenkins in the May 6 Republican Primary. No Democrats filed to run, so it's winner take all.

As always, send me your campaign stuff.

Davis releases ad, stresses values

Just got this one in from the Kristi Davis camp. She's running against Billy Stokes and Ray Jenkins in the May 6 Republican primary for the Circuit Court Judge (Div. I) seat. No Democrats qualified, so it's winner take all next month.

Here's what her camp had to say (video below):

Kristi Davis released her first campaign advertisement today, focusing on her life-long connection to Knox County and the values she would bring to the bench.

“I am very excited to be able to get my message out to the voters of Knox County. My campaign has tremendous momentum, and being able to speak directly to the voters will keep the campaign moving forward,” said Davis.

Check out her website right smack here.

Early voting began on April 16 and runs through May 1.

Brooks endorses Jenkins for judge

Ray Jenkins

OK, so everyone gets one free post for an endorsement. Heh. This one is from the Ray Jenkins camp. Ray is running against Billy Stokes and Kristi Davis for the Circuit Court Judge (Div. I) seat in the May 6 Republican primary.

There are no Democrats, so it's winner take all next month. Early voting started Wednesday and runs through May 1.

Representative Harry Brooks (R – Knoxville) today announced his endorsement for Ray Jenkins for Knox County Circuit Court Judge.  Brooks says Jenkins’s wide breadth of experience with a proven track record of successes qualify him as a strong candidate for the position.

“Ray Jenkins is the best person for the job,” said Harry Brooks, four-term state representative and chairman of the House Education Committee. “He is a constitutional conservative with experience as a lawyer, a community leader and a business leader. We have been long-time friends and he has had impressive successes in every position he has held.”

In addition to successful stints in business and politics, Jenkins has a wide variety of legal experience, representing all levels of clients from Fortune 500 companies to families and everything in between. 

These experiences have prepared Jenkins to be Circuit Court Judge, as these judges have a heavy role in the general jurisdiction of a variety of legal matters.

Jenkins expressed appreciation for Representative Brooks endorsement and said, “The support of Representative Brooks means a great deal coming from a legislator of his caliber. He has done a great job for Knox County and for Tennessee,” he said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to serve Knox County and to apply the law to real people in real situations in our community.”

A Knox Co. native, Jenkins is a graduate of Tennessee Tech where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Jenkins took an analyst position with the Navy in Virginia after graduation, returning to his home state three years later for a job with the Air Force at Arnold Engineering Development Center where he continued to work while attending law school at the Nashville School of Law. 

Check out his website, right smack here.

Jenkins reception set for Monday

Mario Azevedo II and John D. Lockridge Jr will host a reception for Ray Jenkins, who is running for the Circuit Court (Div. I) judge seat, at Doc’s All American Grill tomorrow (Monday, April 14) from 5-7 p.m.

The event is open to the public.

In a prepared statement, Azevedo said “Come out, have a cocktail or two, some good grub, and meet Ray Jenkins, a gentleman I think should be the next judge of the 1st Circuit Court for Knox County. He comes from a family with deep roots in the legal community and has practiced law in and around Knox County for the last 15 years. He's former chairman of the Knox County Republican Party, a selfless public servant, family man, and an all-around great guy. Come meet him, show your support, and don't forget early voting starts on the 16th of April!”

Jenkins is running in the Republican primary against Billy Stokes and Kristi Davis to replace retiring Judge Dale Workman, who is retiring after 24 years on the bench. No Democrats are running.

As always, send me your election stuff and I’ll post it.

Good luck to all the candidates.

General endorses Stokes for judge

Carl Stiner

Yesterday, retired U.S. Army Four-Star General and former Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command, Carl Stiner, announced his support and endorsement of Billy Stokes for Circuit Court Judge, Division I in the May 6 Knox County Republican primary, according to a news release the campaign sent over.

This is actually a big deal. Not every day a prominent general endorses a candidate in a local election.

Anyhoo, the release notes that during his 35 year career Stiner commanded the Army’s preeminent contingency strike forces; including the Joint Special Operations Command, the 82d Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps. General Stiner has an extensive background in special operations. His service includes involvement in operations to capture terrorists in the Achille Lauro hijacking, the Panama invasion and the capture of Manuel Noriega, as well as special operations activities during Operation Desert Storm. He also contributed to the Tom Clancy book entitled, “Shadow Warriors: Inside the Special Forces.”

You can read the entire release, which includes a statement by Stiner, right here.

Stokes faces local attorneys Ray Jenkins and Kristi Davis in the May Republican Primary. No Democrats are seeking the seat.

As always, send me your political stuff and I’ll post it.

Stokes campaign ad touts experience

Billy Stokes’ campaign for Knox County Circuit Court Judge (Division 1) released its first Internet advertisement (I guess this is the second – heh) called “Experience.” The add, according to a release “exclusively details Bill’s Knoxville roots, 30 years of trial experience, and dedication to the people of Knox County.”

You can find it right smack here, and you can find the full release and script right here.
As always, send me your political stuff and I'll post it. Maybe. Heh.

The county primary is set for May with the general elections in August.

In addition to Stokes, Ray Jenkins, Kristi Davis and William "Bill" Ailor, all Republicans, also have picked up nominating petitions to run for the seat.

Jenkins for judge sets Feb. 7 kickoff

Got this in the email today:

The campaign of Ray Jenkins for Judge of the Knox County Circuit Court, Division I announced its official Kickoff event is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7 at the Downtown Crowne Plaza from 5-7 p.m.  Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.  Contributions welcome but not required.

“We are looking forward to a big turnout and a great night of fellowship with friends and supporters.  This is First Friday, so come out and celebrate with us and then enjoy First Friday in downtown Knoxville,” Jenkins, a Republican, said in a statement today.  “We have a large number of volunteers and supporters signing up and as the old saying goes – ‘the more, the merrier!’”

As always, send me your political stuff and I'll post it. Maybe. Heh.

The county primary is set for May with the general elections in August.

In addition to Jenkins, Billy Stokes, Kristi Davis and William "Bill" Ailor, all Republicans, also have picked up nominating petitions to run for the seat.

Davis to host kick-off gig Jan. 7

Local attorney Kristi Davis, who is seeking the Circuit Court Judge Division 1 seat, announced a campaign kick-off reception for Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the Bistro at the Bijou.

The public is invited and campaign contributions are welcome but not required.

The primary is in May and the general election is set for August. Incumbent judge, Dale Workman, has said that he won't seek re-election.

Davis, a Republican, is expected to face opposition from attorneys Ray Jenkins, Billy Stokes and Bill Ailor, who have also announced their intentions to seek the position. All are Republicans.

As always, any candidates can send me their election announcements, campaign plans, etc. for publication.

Stokes to run for Circuit Ct Judge

Knoxville lawyer Billy Stokes today announced that he will seek the office of Judge, Knox County Circuit Court, Div. 1, bringing the total of Republican candidates at this point to three.

"My career as an attorney has enabled me to serve both in private practice and government service," Stokes said in a statement. 'there is no more important, responsible or accountable position in our justice system than the position of Judge. After consulting my family and members of my firm, I believe I can do the best job in this role for the people of Knox County."

According to the rest of his release, Stokes has practiced law in Knox County for more than 30 years, with most of it at the Circuit Court level. He was a Captain in the U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC) and served in the Tennessee governor's cabinet and on senior staff.

Early in his career, he work for the Knoxville Police Department, the Knox County Juvenil Court and the East TN Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

He is currently a shareholder in the firm, Williams, Sharp, Davies, Cope & Mann, P.C.

In addition to Stokes, local attorney and former county GOP Chairman Ray Jenkins and attorney Kristi Davis, who represented the family that got yelled at by a judge for naming their kid "Messiah," are running for the seat.

Also, from what I understand Knox County Assistant Attorney General Leland Price will run as a Democrat for a Criminal Court Judge seat (different race).

And, of course, I’ll be running as a write-in candidate because, quite frankly, I think it would be bad a$$ to get that gig and then walk around the Death Star all day in the black robe like freakin’ Lord Vader. (Not to be confused with Lord McIntyre of course.)

Davis to run for circuit ct judge

Local attorney Kristi Davis today announced her intentions to run for the Knox County Circuit Court Division I seat to succeed Judge Dale Workman who recently announced his plans to retire.

Davis, a partner with the firm of Hodges, Doughty & Carson, will hold a kickoff fundraiser in early January.

According to a release:

She grew up in the Karns community and received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Tennessee, with honors. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in employment law, workers’ compensation, general civil litigation, and appellate matters. She has been active in the community, serving on the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red, the Board of Directors for Friends of Literacy, and an Advisory Committee for Pellissippi State.

Knoxville attorney and former county GOP chairman, Ray Jenkins, also will seek the position.

The Republican Primary is set for May, and the general election is set for August.

Jenkins to run for Circuit Ct judge

I'm a little late on this one, but Knoxville attorney and former Knox County GOP chairman Ray Jenkins announced that he will seek the office of Judge of the Knox County Circuit Court - Division I to succeed Judge Dale Workman who recently announced his plans to retire.

“I have a varied and diverse practice as well as an extensive background in business and government service," Jenkins said in a released statement. "I believe this experience uniquely qualifies me to serve as Circuit Court Judge.  Judge Workman has established a legacy of public service to Knox County that not only includes 24 years on the bench but also as Knox County Law Director.  His example is one I hope to emulate if elected to succeed him.”

Jenkins in a news release said he will file the necessary paperwork to name a treasurer and qualify for the race at the appropriate time.

The Republican Primary is set for May, and the general election is set for August.

Jarret, Armstrong meet, move forward

Georgiana Vines in her column – click right smack here – on Saturday provided some insight into incoming Knox County Law Director Bud Armstrong’s plans. She noted that Bud and his former political foe and GOP primary challenger Joe Jarret were gonna meet today.

They did, according to Jarret, who will leave office at the end of August. And the meeting went pretty well.

He said the office ordered coffee and bagels and held a small reception for Bud as employees introduced themselves. Also along for the ride was local GOP Chairman Ray Jenkins, who – according to Jarret – will lead Armstrong’s transition team.

Not sure that works. I know presidents have transition teams. But law directors?????

Heh.

Anyhoo, Joe said everyone “was very cordial and Bud and I both agreed that was best for everyone and for the county was to put everything behind us and have a completely seamless transition.”

He said he has an empty office that he offered to let Bud use and said he’s putting together a transition notebook for him.

“I told him I’ll share everything I can except those things privileged by law,” Jarret said.

Joe said he, Ray and Bud talked about “the challenges (i.e. charter review) that lie ahead as (Bud) takes over,” but didn’t go into many details, noting that whatever he told me would make its way onto Screams from da Porch.

That’s about it.

Bud takes office Sept. 1.

As Georgiana noted, Bud told her that David Buuck is on his list for a possible gig in the law director’s office. To my knowledge there’s only one open position and that’s for law director junior (or whatever the right-hand man or woman position is called). Joe never filled the job, opting to do all of it himself. That’s not to say Buuck will get it. Bud could promote someone and then fill that position.

Ray has said publicly that he has no plans to join the department.

Oh wait, one more thing. You might have noticed that Georgiana reported that Bud would have people representing him or whatever at the charter review committee meetings. He wouldn’t, however, tell her who they were.

That’s strange. But whatever. It’s not like you can’t look around the room and figure it out.

GOP's Jenkins says Jarret can't un-resign

Earlier today, I posted this beauty about Knox County Law Director Joe Jarret and his response to county commissioners about why he can resign and then un-resign.

Now, however, local GOP Chairman Ray Jenkins says that might not be the case. Jenkins in a letter to county Mayor Tim Burchett and commission Chairman Mike Hammond, which includes some case law, which you can find right smack here, says once revocation by a public official is tendered then it is irrevocable. Or something along those lines.

He says Jarret's initial resignation letter was “absolute and unconditional.” Again, you can find all this right smack here.

And again, here's the entry from earlier today right smack here.

With all that said, I think the commission will do what it wants. I'd be surprised if someone takes this to court over a five month interim appointment.

Then again, no, I wouldn't be surprised.

Local GOP Party inside baseball

Brian Hornback, the great agitator of all things related to Scripps and the News Sentinel, published a few interesting posts recently on is blog about some inside baseball going on in the Knox County Republican Party and its move to reorganize.

Now, I did hear a week or so back that the reorganization was set for next Friday, also the day that the school kids will be on Spring Break and the building will be closed. I guess they’ll just pay a janitor to show up in let them in. Or not.

Anyway, I confess to not knowing all the intricacies about what’s going on, so you should probably check out his post here.

Local GOP Party chairman Ray Jenkins also posted a note here on the organization's website.

(By the way, what's up with excluding county Law Director Joe Jarret - a Republican - from the site? All the other local Republican officeholders are on there, even a few I think are really Democrats in disguise.)

Anyhoo, a few days later the Scripps agitator talked about a TN GOP probe into the local Republican Party for possible bylaw violations in this post. It all has something to do about when a meeting was supposed to be advertised in the KNS.

He wrote:

“It is clearly 3 days late of the TN Republican Party bylaws. State Chairman Chris Devaney has referred this item to the bylaws committee. It seems that the spin to Chairman Devaney is that the News Sentinel delayed publishing the notice.”

Even Hornback, who can’t stand the paper, says this is crap.

I’ve got to agree.

We need the money.

Heh.

So we’ll publish a legal ad as soon as possible. We don’t like losing customers.

Although I’m sure there are plenty of folks out there who would argue with me on that one.

On a side note, I'm not a big fan of just linking to other blogs without doing my own research first. But it's Sunday night and I just ate a bunch of horse tranquilizers, so I'm lazy.

Kidding.

Or not.