Haynes' official resignation letter

Haynes

Dear SEC Member,

I wanted to let you know that after much thought, I have decided that I will not run for re-election to be the Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.

I have enjoyed the challenge of leading our party through an extremely important election that had more twists and turns than I could have ever imagined. It has been an absolute honor to represent our Party.

On election night the Tennessee Republican Party picked up two seats that were previously held by Democrats. These victories make Republicans more dominant than ever before in the history of our Party! I am thrilled that you gave me the honor to lead us to these successes.

It is not by mistake that we have low taxes, a balanced budget, unprecedented economic growth, and the fastest-improving education system in the nation. All of this is due to the fact Republicans are governing this state responsibly—and you have been an integral part of these achievements. Thank you for your efforts!

I look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that have been presented to me. It has been an honor to do this job and I will always be grateful for those who work so hard to allow us to be the strongest political party in the state. I have no doubt that our Party's success will continue well into the future.

I look forward to seeing you at our December 3rd State Executive Committee meeting.

Best Regards,


Ryan Haynes

Haynes won't seek GOP chair again

Haynes

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes doesn't plan to seek re-election during the Dec. 3 meeting of party officials.

Haynes held the seat for about 18 months.

“I feel like we set out what we accomplished to do,” Haynes told WBIR 10News Friday morning. “We have a lot more Republicans elected in this state than ever before and that’s good enough for me.”

Haynes noted that “we faced a lot of distractions along the way but kept the focus.”

“I’m really proud to have done the job and happy to see how it all shook out on election night,” he said.

Haynes told WBIR that he plans to stay in Knox County where he has a home and at this point plans to “enter the private sector and looking forward to that and seeing what the future holds.”

When asked about rumors that he might run for Knox County Mayor in 2018, Haynes declined to give a definitive answer.

“I think there are a lot of people out there who would be extremely qualified to run and I’m looking forward to seeing those names come out,” he said. “There are a lot of people very well suited for that job.”

Trump in town tonight, but not asking for help from state or local GOP

Republican presidential candidate and real estate billionaire Donald Trump is running in a traditional party with what many would describe as a nontraditional campaign.

Trump is scheduled to speak in Knoxville at 7tonight at the Knoxville Convention Center, but he is reportedly not using help from the county and state GOP.

Ryan Haynes, the Tennessee GOP chairman, and Buddy Burkhardt, the Knox County GOP chairman, said they both found out about the event through the Internet.

"I found out through Facebook, which obviously is a very non-traditional way of finding these things out," Haynes said. "A lot of the campaigns have contacted us directly when they're coming to town."

Full story RIGHT HERE.

Haynes remarks on Republican debate

Haynes

Tennessee GOP chairman Ryan Haynes weighs in on the Republican debate:

"Once again, it was readily apparent Republicans have the energy and the enthusiasm for 2016 on our side. We showcased the most diverse field of presidential candidates in history--of either party.

Despite CNN's best efforts to turn our candidates against themselves, we were able to hear directly from these inspirational leaders from the fields of business, medicine, and public service who offer substantive solutions to the problems facing our nation.

The Republican Party has a conservative vision for our nation that will create opportunity for families, reinvigorate the American economy, and prioritize our commitment to freedom. President Obama's time in the White House has been terrible for our nation.

What's worse, Hillary Clinton would continue those policies. Thankfully, one of these Republican candidates will make sure she doesn't get that chance."

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.

Election set for state Rep. seat

From the good folks at the Knox County Election Commission:

As we had anticipated, Gov. Haslam today issued the Writ of Election for the vacancy of Office of State Representative, District 14, as a result of Ryan Haynes’ resignation on May 27, 2015. And, as we had specifically requested, Gov. Haslam has set the date of Wednesday, August 12th to hold the primary elections for nominations by statewide political parties and has further set the date of Tuesday, September 29th to hold a general election to fill that vacancy.

Therefore, the Knox County Election Commission (“KCEC”) will immediately begin issuing qualifying petitions for that election. The qualifying deadline for those petitions will be Thursday, July 2nd at NOON and the withdrawal deadline will be Thursday, July 9th at NOON. Early voting for this primary election will begin on Thursday, July 23rd and will run thru Friday, August 7th.

The KCEC would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank both former Rep. Haynes and Gov. Haslam for coordinating fully with this office by taking their respective actions when they did. By doing so, both have ensured that the Writ of Election sets election dates which will save substantial costs for the State of Tennessee and will minimize confusion for the voters of Knox County by eliminating one additional election date for this special election since the date of the general election for this house seat will now be the same as the election date for the City of Knoxville Primary Election on September 29th.

Haynes steps down, officials looking at Aug. 12 primary to fill seat

Ryan Haynes

The new leader of the Tennessee Republican Party has resigned from his seat in the state General Assembly, ending a decision-making process that had garnered some criticism from fellow Republicans.

Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, submitted his letter to the governor's office Wednesday. The resignation is effective immediately.

"I will always be grateful to the people of Knox County for their support," Haynes said in a prepared statement Wednesday afternoon. "It has been an honor to serve, and I am truly thankful for the friendship you have all given me during my time in the House of Representatives."

I just talked to Knox County Administrator of Elections Cliff Rodgers and he said his office is working to hold a special election to fill the seat on Aug. 12. This would be for the primary and it would be a standalone election.

He said they're also looking to hold the general election for that seat on Sept. 29, which would beheld at the same time as the Knoxville primary election.

Haynes picked as new state GOP chair

Ryan Haynes

The State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party today selected state Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville to serve as the new TNGOP Chairman.

The special meeting was called after the March 23 announcement that Chairman Chris Devaney would be stepping down effective April 11.

Haynes prevailed on the first ballot. Other candidates for the position included SEC Member Rebecca Burke, state Rep. Mary Littleton, and Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain.

“I am excited to take on this challenge and humbled by the support of the State Executive Committee,” Haynes said. “I want to pick up right where Chairman Devaney left off: building our Party, maintaining and growing our strong financial advantage over our opponents, and getting as many votes as possible for our GOP nominees.”

Devaney said: “There is no doubt in my mind Ryan will be a fantastic chairman for the Party. The TNGOP is in as strong of a position as we have ever been heading into a presidential election cycle. It has been an honor to serve this organization and be part of its rise to dominance in Tennessee. I look forward to working with Chairman Haynes to ensure our success continues.”

Haynes, who is also the chairman of the local Legislative delegation, has said he would step down from his state rep seat. That means the Knox County Commission could appoint an interim who would serve out until a special election, which could be in September.

Hatfield backs Haynes for GOP chair

Looks like Ryan Haynes has at least one supporter in his bid for the Tennessee Republican Party chair seat. (Actually, he has quite a few supporters.)

Anyhoo, in a letter sent today to SEC members, District 6 party rep Ted Hatfield noted:

I wanted to write you today to tell you a little about my friend Ryan Haynes. I have had the pleasure to get to know Ryan over the last several years and witness firsthand his maturity, work ethic, and commitment to the Republican Party.

Ryan has worked countless hours not only in his own campaigns but assisted in the efforts of many other conservative candidates over the years. I have also had the pleasure to see his leadership qualities as he Chairs the Knox Co. Delegation of the legislature.

When Ryan gets involved in something he really goes all in as he has shown with his commitment to resign from the legislature if elected Chair. He has the ability to connect with many different types of people on many different levels and will make a great leader of this party. I hope you will join me in supporting Ryan Haynes for Party Chair on April 11th.

In addition to Ryan, Memphis radiologist George Flinn, state Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson; Rebecca Burke of Williamson County; and former Davidson County GOP Chairwoman Kathleen Starnes are vying for the seat.

Haynes seeks state GOP chair seat

Haynes

State Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, announced his intentions today to seek the chairman post for the state Republican Party.

In a letter to SEC members, Haynes wrote:

As you know, Chris Devaney has announced his decision to step down as Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. Under the leadership of Chairman Devaney and the State Executive Committee, our party has reached historic levels of success. Our state is better off because of that dedicated service.

It is now time to look to the future. We must examine who our party will trust to have a clear vision and a set of goals to keep us successful. I want you to be the first to know of my intentions to seek the position of Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. Certainly this decision does not come lightly. This is a tremendous responsibility and I would be honored to serve a party that stands on solid principles and protects the values of Tennesseans.

Having served in the state legislature since 2008, I have seen first-hand the significance of having conservative leadership leading our party and our state. Together Republicans have cut taxes, increased efficiencies in state government, and spurred economic development for our citizens while holding true to our conservative beliefs. I have been fortunate to hold many leadership roles in the General Assembly during this time that include serving as the assistant caucus chair and holding the gavel as chairman of the state government committee. In addition I have been a proud member of the Republican Caucus Campaign Committee where conservatives have reached historic levels in the state legislature. My persistence, hard work, and loyalty to the Republican Party have resulted in significant improvements to our state.

I appreciate the history of our party and the efforts of those who have paved the way to where we dominate local, state and federal offices. However, I believe there is more work to do for our future. My four goals are simple and are as follows:

1. Elect a Republican president in 2016 and send boots on the ground to other states that might need extra help to do the same
2. Strengthen our numbers in the state legislature and the United States Congress
3. Build on our Red to the Roots program
4. Prepare a comprehensive plan to attract younger voters, women, and minorities to our cause.

I intend to travel our state seeking your advice and counsel, but most importantly work to earn your trust and support. I’m sure others will be interested in serving as chairman, but I can assure you no one will outwork me. In my first race for the state legislature I knocked on thousands of doors, followed my campaign plan, and did a lot of listening. I plan on doing the same thing as a candidate for state chairman. My passion for our party runs deep and I know that together we can continue to build on our successes of the past, and capitalize on opportunities for the future. I will do my part and I know you will do yours just as you have in the past.

Therefore, I respectfully ask for your vote and your support. I look forward to seeing you along the trail in the days ahead.

Respectfully,

Ryan Haynes

Parker appointed to replace McNutt on Knox County Election Commission

Republicans in the local Legislative delegation appointed Hannah Parker, a media relations expert, to the Knox County Election Commission.

Parker, who worked for Bill Haslam when he was mayor and governor, replaces Rob McNutt on on the 5-member panel.

The state lawmakers on Thursday also re-appointed the commission’s chairman, Chris Heagerty, and Robert Bowman, both attorneys, to fill the other two slots Republican slots.

“It was a very close vote and there was a lot of discussion,” said state Rep. Ryan Haynes, chairman of the delegation.

Haynes declined to say how members voted.

“I’m tremendously honored for the opportunity to serve and look forward to working to ensure that elections are conducted fairly and with integrity,” Parker told WBIR 10News Thursday. “I don’t have any reason to believe that hasn’t been the case, but that was my main reason for wanting to participate (on the commission).”

The Democrat members of the Legislative delegation will make their appointments in the coming days.

Cassandra McGee Stuart, who works at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and lawyer Tammy Kaousias currently represent the party on the commission.

Under state law, the political party that holds a majority in the General Assembly also holds a majority on local election commissions. The local delegation makes the appointments, which are then rubberstamped by state Election Commission.

Parker joined Knoxville-based PR firm Moxley Carmichael in June 2014. Prior to that, she served in Gov. Haslam’s administration as deputy for operations. She also worked in the Office of Policy and Communications for Haslam during his tenure as Knoxville’s mayor.

She will take over as director of community relations for the Emerald Youth Foundation on March 9.

In her cover letter to state lawmakers, she noted: “As a lifelong Knoxvillian, I genuinely care about our community. Should I have the honor of being selected as an election commissioner, I will serve with the utmost integrity, putting policy over personality and always seek to maintain the public’s trust in our election process.”

Local political insiders expected the delegation to keep Heagerty and Bowman, but McNutt’s appointment was in question.

A number of insiders felt he was picked back in 2011 only to help oust then-Knox County Elections Administrator Greg Mackay, a Democrat.

A few years prior, Republicans attempted to replace Mackay, but then-commissioner Paul Crilly voted with the two Democrats to retain him. Upset, the delegation replaced Crilly with McNutt.

The commission, with McNutt on board, then ousted Mackay in a 3-2 vote, and later hired current administrator Cliff Rodgers.

Rodgers has since been unanimously retained once and is expected to be kept the next time the commission votes, which more than likely will be in April.

A number of state lawmakers were upset with McNutt after it was revealed that he voted outside his precinct more than half a dozen times prior to his appointment on the commission.

His strongest supporter on the delegation was former state Rep. Steve Hall, who lost his re-election bid last year.

The commissioners and the administrator of elections serve two year terms, although the administrator serves at the pleasure of the panel. Neither is term-limited.

No-shows and cancelled meetings

Looks like there are a number of no-shows today for some meetings.

Yesterday I blogged that School Boar Chairwoman Karen Carson had reached out to some local officials about meeting today to discuss school security. The powwow was set for 9:30 this morning, but it was cancelled since no one (or only a few) could make it.

Two people told me that the invitation was sent out Friday around 5:30 p.m., and that they already had meetings set for today.

In addition, state Sen. Becky Massey and state Rep. Ryan Haynes are not going to attend the county commission's monthly luncheon. They were invited to talk about a couple of resolutions regarding whether to elect school superintendents and to hold partisan school board elections.

Both apparently had a luncheon in Nashville today.

Officials to cut local state legislative office

Awhile back Knox County Mayor Tim “Cheapskate” Burchett cut a number of jobs, including one he really didn't have authority over. That was the $50,000 spot in the Legislative Office held by Patsy Miller. (She has since retired. And Burchett did actually broach the idea with members of the local Legislative delegation. But I digress.)

Anyhoo, state Rep. Ryan, Haynes, R-Knoxville, and state Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, are sponsoring legislation that wipes out the entire department. Not that there was really anything left to wipe out, but it now means another governing body or official later on can't just fill the job.

Click right smack here for the state House version of the bill.

I'm not positive about what the office actually did, but from what I understand it was more an answering service for the local state senators and representatives.

Rep. Haynes looking into tattletale line

Just a quick update on the county's tattletale line.

Talked to state Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, last week about it. You might recall that he was asked by county officials and members of the audit committee to look into whether anything can be done about so-called frivolous calls made to the hot line.

Here's the original story right smack here.

Anyhoo, Ryan (at left in a picture I clearly lifted off the state's website) said he talked to the state comptroller's office and he's now working on legislation that he'll possibly introduce by mid-January.

One of the possibilities, he said, was looking into whether something deemed frivolous (or if there are no findings against the complaint) should become public.

Right now it is, so if you want to call up the hot line and make up all sorts of crap about someone . . . .

In the meantime, I'm hoping Ryan will introduce legislation that would require the state to have a hot line system that I can prank call on a regular basis.

A few notes before the meeting

A couple things before I head out to today's County Commission work session. Click here for the agenda.)

Over the weekend, Georgiana Vines wrote about a number of folks interested in taking (soon-to-be-former) state Sen. Jamie Woodson's seat. You can read about it here. Also, local blogger Dan Andrews makes a case why he should get the temporary gig here.

And this morning, I had a note forwarded to me from Jim Boyer, who left the House seat in 2002 after serving as Republican caucus chairman, saying that he, too, also is contemplating the seat.

And of course, county Commissioner R. Larry Smith says he might look into it, as well as commission Chairman Mike Hammond.

Note, however, that there's a difference between taking the seat early or waiting until the election. While there's an obvious advantage to getting your name on there now and running later, if you're a county commissioner – and you really like your job – you might be taking a chance to jump in now.

Since you'd have to resign and all. And you're not guaranteed a win.

The other thing. The commission work session starts at 2 p.m. today in the big room just past the metal detectors as you make your way through the Deathstar. So, unless you're a cop, deputy or Lumpy Lambert, don't bring a gun. (OK, bad joke.)

The first big items is a proposal to give control of the budgets for three of the non-judiciary fee offices – that means the register of deeds, the trustee and the county clerk offices – to the mayor and the commission. It looks like officials might drop the judiciary ones – clerk and masters, circuit court clerk and criminal court clerk.

This will be moved to the top of the agenda because Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey needs to head to Nashville to meet with state Rep. Ryan Haynes. They're supposed to find a way to get her office under a state statute that will allow her to collect assessment fines that will go toward the helping the Knoxville Family Justice Center. (I wrote a story about that mess right smack here.)

Also, the Hillside Ridgetop Protection Plan item is on the agenda, although it's under the Planning and Zoning section. Presumably, officials won't talk about it.

But, you know how that went the last time chairman Hammond said no one was going to speak.

Heh.

More on election commission mess

On Monday, the State Election Commission is expected to rubber stamp the nominations the local Legislative delegation made to the Knox County Election Commission.

That means the panel won’t change except for Rob McNutt taking over for Paul Crilly because the Republicans couldn’t stomach one of their own jumping ship and voting to keep county Elections Administrator Greg Mackay, a Democrat.

Late last week I wrote a story about McNutt forgetting seven times that he voted in the wrong precinct, and word was going around that he might step down.

You know, because the election commission kind of defines elections around here, and he kind of forgot how, where and when how to vote.

I never believed he’d step down, and News Sentinel staff writer Tom Humphrey (the most kick-ass state government reporter in all of Tennessee) pretty much confirmed it earlier this week.

(I don’t think Tom wrote about it, since it’s pretty much a non-issue now, but I might as well throw it up here, since I mentioned it earlier in the week.)

Humphrey said that the state senators and representatives he spoke to about the issue said the matter is over, so far as they are concerned, barring anything further.

Republican state Sen. and (McNutt's good pal) Stacey Campfield, for example, said the election is finished and “the time for yelling is before the election, not after.”

(On a side note, I have no idea what he’s talking about. What election? The nominations the delegation made last week without bothering to research the candidates? That election? Nooooooo. There’s always time to yell. Or scream. Heh.)

State Rep. Ryan Haynes, also a Republican and the chairman of the Knox County delegation, says if there’s anything problematic, it would be left to the state commission to decide against the delegation recommendations.

Of course, that’s not going to happen.

More on election commission mess

I’m somewhere over Florida right now as I type this, on my way to see the big greed-head rodent in Orlando.

So, I got some time to kill.

Because if I don’t keep myself occupied, I’m going to throw a little snot-kid and his stoned-dad in front of me out of the plane.

Anyhoo, was thinking about today’s story (click right smack here for the bad boy), and what I’ve heard, since it came out. One rumor has it that - Rob McNutt - the Republican Legislative delegation’s pick to serve on the county Election Commission won’t accept the appointment.

I don’t buy it. The guy is passionate. He wants the job. And he’s got his party’s support. For the most part. He’s staying.

The other rumor is that the election office will turn over the information I reported (That McNutt voted out of his precinct seven times) to the District Attorney General’s Office.

Well yeah. What did you think would happen?

If Elections Administrator Greg Mackay and his right-hand man Scott “attached at the hip” Frith didn’t, then they would be breaking the law.

If it’s possible that someone violated state election laws, then the election folks will at least have some type of discussion with prosecutors. (Hey, Scott, just having a little fun at your expense.)

With that said, the issue won't go anywhere. Even if McNutt intentionally and maliciously voted in the wrong precinct, I’m sure there is some statute of limitations that’s expired by now. I’m guessing it would be a two-year limit. Some of his infractions were more than a decade ago.

Also, I know people are going to come down on Mackay if he does talk to Attorney General Randy Nichols. They’ll say he shouldn’t do it. OK, cool. Say he does nothing. Well, what happens if the next time someone screws up it’s a Democrat?

You think the local Republicans are going to give that person a pass? Hell no.

So, Mackay has to talk. He’ll at least hold a brief conversation with the AG’s office. Probably nothing more.

OK, some other thoughts, really in no particular order. Mostly, what I’m doing here is “cleaning out the notebook,” giving you some information that didn’t make it into the story because of space issues, or relevance, or whatever.

Enjoy. It’s free.

So, Steve Hall, the state representative and long-time friend of McNutt. The big rumor - and this has been going on for years now really - going around the county Deathstar is that Hall wants Mackay’s job. A few years ago when the Republicans were gunning for Mackay, he applied.

Apparently, it didn’t work out too well for him.

“I told (the Election Commission) that I thought Greg Mackay was going a fine job,” he said. “But there was an indication that there would be a change, and if there was going to be a change, then I would have liked to have had that position.”

Hall joked that he thinks his remarks made a lot of fellow Republicans mad.

“They told me that I sounded like I was doing a commercial for Greg,” he said laughing.

I asked if he was again interested in the job. The commission in the upccoming weeks will probably decide on Mackay's future - whether to keep him, fire him or take applications for his job. Or whatever it is they do. Maybe they’ll do nothing. (No, by the way, Mackay is not term-limited.)

Damn, I’m rambling here.

Hall said he was not interested and that he would not apply.

“Not in the near future,” he said. “Who knows 10 years from now.”

Anyway, a few more things to address. First, the quote by state Rep. Ryan Haynes, the local Legislative delegation’s big dog (‘cause he’s got the chairmanship spot).

Folks on the message boards have been sticking it to him for pretty much blaming “a little old lady for punching the wrong keypad” for the reason election folks should share some of the blame for McNutt voting in the wrong precinct.

The tone of his statement, however, was lost in the printed word. That happens. Unfortunately. But Ryan was somewhat chuckling when he said it. In retrospect, I could have paraphrased him, wrote something like: Haynes suggested elections officials should share some of the blame. Perhaps, he said, someone didn’t use the keypad correctly.

Whatever.

I'm not going to second guess muyself. I just don’t want people to think the guy stereotyped poll workers or doesn’t like little old ladies.

But, with that said, I don’t buy it. No one punched the wrong key in SEVEN different elections.

Second thing to address is how I got this story. I’m not telling. But don’t start thinking it was Mackay. (And it also wasn’t local attorney Dennis Francis – another rumor I heard going around today. He’s never given me a tip that panned out, so he’s been shut off. Kidding. About the shut off part. His tips, however, do suck. ) But, back to Mackay. It wouldn’t have been in his best interest to tip me off. Not now, anyway.

He’s smart enough to know the best damage gets released the day before the election - not now. And no, I’m not covering for anyone. I don’t care who the election administrator is. In fact, the administrator (new or old) could screw up multiple elections and I wouldn't care. So long as the person returns my calls.

Third thing to address: McNutt.

I enjoyed talking to him. I don’t take great pleasure - despite what many of you may think - in busting someone on 1-A. I like to know them for a while before I do that.

Heh.

But seriously, he is a nice guy. He told me a few stories about how he’d take his children into the voting booths with him, when they were toddlers, and talk to them about the election process. (OK, no jokes here, please.)

He also seemed very passionate about community service, civic duty, whatever.

Again, I like the guy. (I doubt he likes me very much, but I digress.) And yes, the last thing on my mind - if my parents passed away three months apart and I was moving - would be to change my information with the election office. (Which is something he didn't do and is now subsequently in the limelight for.) However, it would be the first thing on my mind when I finally went down to the polls to vote. (Which also is something he did not do . . . .)

On a side note, I actually thought McNutt was living in the county and voting in city elections. Not that it makes much of a difference.

Last up is state Rep. Harry Tindell, a Democrat. I talked to him about for this story, but his comments didn’t make the paper. Not enough space. He wouldn’t touch it, though. Said that was all up to the Republicans. Smart guy.

I also called Republican state Senator Jamie Woodson for a comment on the story. Funny. I didn’t hear back from her.

On a final side note, I did mention county Mayor Tim Burchett in the story, but I was talking to him about McNutt's background. I never addressed the voting issues with the mayor.

Anyway, I’m out of town for a few. I imagine that I’ll still update, though.

In the meantime, I've got a mouse to catch tomorrow.

Update: I had some links connected to this post, mostly to bios, but Blogger is acting up today and I had to repost this without most of them.

Election Commission makeover

Sentinel journalist Tom Humphrey, the most kick-ass state reporter in Tennessee, broke the news today that county election commissioner Paul Crilly is out and Rob McNutt is in.

(By the way I don't believe Rob is related to Scott McNutt, the most smart-ass reporter in Tennessee.)

The move could mean the end for county Election Administrator Greg Mackay, a Democrat living in a Republican world. Or at least hanging out in and near a Republican courthouse, which many here consider the world.

Then again, maybe not.

Tom's story is here.

He essentially says the Republican legislators ousted Crilly who voted with the two Democrats on the commission a few years back to retain Mackay.

Today's vote was done via a spineless ballot. I mean, sorry, my bad. It was done via a secret ballot. And the vote totals were not announced, according to Rep. Ryan Haynes, chairman of the county Legislative delegation.

Knox County Election Commission Chairman Chris "Hag" Heagerty (long-time childhood trouble-making friend of county Mayor Tim Burchett) and Bob Bowman were both given new terms by the vote.

The two Democrats - whoever they are - also were reappointed awhile back.

As I've mentioned before, I don't have a dog in this fight. But it's pretty spineless to get rid of the one person who actually had a backbone (Crilly), and then decline to say how you voted. I hear the chickens clucking in the background.

You see, whether you agree with Crilly's stance or with Mackay's politics, the now-former commissioner at least showed that he couldn't be swayed by party politics. He voted for a person (Mackay), rather than just a party. He actually thought for himself.

I know. It's unheard of.

And no, I'm not trying to disparage Hag or Bowman. They might have made the right decision when they voted to oust Mackay.

I'm just saying.

You know, whatever.

I'm just glad there's something else to post today other than the fee office mess.

Help Wanted: Election Commission

A “media alert” came in Friday when I was on vacation. Apparently, state Rep. Ryan Haynes and the rest of the Knox County Legislative Delegation are now accepting “letters of interest/resumes” for the Knox County Election Commission.

(Not sure why they didn’t save a few words and just say “applications.”)

Anyhoo, this is the first step, I suppose, to more election commission drama and current election administrator Greg Mackay’s fight to keep his job. Again.

I blogged about this awhile back. But here’s a quick rehash:

A few years ago, local officials urged the county’s state lawmakers to see to it that a Republican was appointed to Mackay’s job, in light of the then-new GOP-majority county Election Commission. (Mackay is a Democrat obviously or this wouldn’t be an issue.)

After a lot of publicity, the commission in a 3-2 vote kept Mackay.

That was only because one Republican on the commission – Paul Crilly – crossed over. People haven’t forgotten. So, it’s no surprise that Crilly is probably on his way out. I’m not sure if he’ll even re-apply for the job.

(The commissioners, by the way, serve for two-years and are not term-limited. They are appointed by the State Election Commission, based on recommendations from the state Legislative delegation. The Republican caucus makes the Republican selections and the Democratic caucus picks the Democrats.)

I think by now everyone knows that state Rep. Harry Tindell and state Rep. Joe Armstrong (both Democrats) plan to keep the same Dems – Cassandra McGee Stuart and Cameron Brooks – on the commission.

The safe bet, too, is on Chris Heagerty and Bob Bowman (both Republicans) sticking around.

So, we’re technically down to one replacement.

I haven’t been following this that closely, since we’re still a ways off, but I’ve heard a few names kicked around, including former county commissioner Greg “Lumpy” Lambert, who is now helping to run courtroom security and swears he’s not packing a gun. (I’m not buying this rumor. The part about him applying, I mean. I’m still not sure about the gun part.)

But, Brian Hornback has an interesting theory.

He’s hearing that local attorney E. Michael “Breezy” Brezina III will replace Crilly. Brezina apparently works with Heagarty, also an attorney. (I swear there’s a lawyer joke in here somewhere.)

That actually makes some sense.

As the Metro Pulse recently noted:

“Heagerty is close to county Mayor Tim Burchett and will likely have some influence with Burchett over picking the next commissioner. The Republican delegation is likely to listen to Burchett, their former colleague, in making the appointment. So Heagerty will likely make the choice to replace Crilly . . . .”

So, does Heagerty pick his co-worker (Brezina) to serve with him?

He might.

But I’m not sure what role, if any, Burchett will play. He’s told me in the past that he doesn’t want to get involved in it. And at this point, I think he’s got more on his plate than that. Like the budget.

Additionally, the administration’s chief of staff, Dean Rice, told me tonight that: “They have a strong election commission and the delegation and the commission will be working together on these issues. That’s their job. There’s not a role for us to be engaged in (on that issue).”

So, what happens now?

We wait, I suppose.

For the drama.

Once the delegation makes its selections, the commission some time in April will probably meet to discuss Mackay’s job.

The big, not-so-secret, rumor is that the group will have Mackay and his deputy (who seems to be attached to his hip) Scott Frith, a Republican, swap jobs. That way, the Republicans are in charge, but the office still has Mackay's experience.

Then again, maybe nothing will happen.

Regardless, if you’re interested in some local election office fun, send your “letters of interest/resumes” (and no, you apparently can’t email them) to:

Rep. Ryan Haynes
Chairman, Knox County Legislative Delegation
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 214 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243