Absher uses different approach in ad

Sally Absher, who is against Jeffrey Clark and incumbent Lynne Fugate for the, Board of Education District 4 seat, has a pretty interesting political ad that hit mailboxes this week.

In fact, I'm not sure I've seen a local candidate take this approach. She includes a QR-code on the mailer. It's one of those fancy codes that you scan with your phone and it takes you to a video. Now, granted, I don't know if anyone will actually use the thing, but it's different.

Anyhoo, that said, the link takes you to a video from a recent BOE meeting in which Fugate, the chairwoman, declines to let a student speak for an extra minute. Heh. Rude.

The video is not necessarily new and Fugate took some well-deserved heat for it. (I mean, come on, a student actually takes the time to show up at a school board meeting - on his own and uninvited - and you don't give him an extra 60 second? Geez.)

It's not like students are exactly banging down the doors to get into these meetings.

But . . .  whatever.

I've rambled enough.

Early voting for the May 6 primary (this is a non-partisan race) wraps up tomorrow. The top two vote-getters unless someone wins it outright with 50 percent plus 1 of the vote - advance to the August General Election.

As always, send me your election stuff for publication. Here's Absher's mailer. The video appears below.

Probably be a long time before school board, commission ever get along

Apparently, it’s OK for school officials to crap all over county leaders and call them out in public meetings, but not for county leaders to ask the superintendent questions.

According to Commissioner Sam McKenzie, members of the joint education committee (of commissioners and board of education members) met last week and a “majority” of the conversation focused on “how we talk to each other.”

McKenzie told fellow commissioners last night that committee members (including some commissioners) felt the tone of a recent public meeting with Superintendent Jim McIntyre turned “nasty.”

(That particular meeting by the way occurred on April 21. At the time, McIntyre talked finances with the commission and mostly dodged questions. I blogged about it right smack here.)

McKenzie said the committee agreed that there should be a level of “tone and civility” toward “our elected or appointed leaders” and that last week “we may have missed the mark.”

McKenzie said the commissioners who serve on the committee agreed “probably to varying points,” but told the BOE members that “we can’t legislate tone.”

Anyhoo, it’s obvious that the discussion was focused around commissioners Mike Brown and Tony Norman who took McIntyre to task, and said that he and the school system really didn’t care much for teachers (in so many words).

Brown on Monday said he wasn’t apologizing, and that – in fact – he’s still waiting for answers, which, he added, was typical.

He then took a shot at the school system’s administration, saying “they have some marvelous spin doctors over there,” and that he doesn’t believe any of the numbers that the system provides to the commission or the public.

Norman, for his part, said he was actually disappointed in the “general demeanor of the (school) board – some individuals in particular almost had their backs to the people who were speaking.”

He was referring to a number of public meetings that took place last year in which students, teachers and parents – wearing red shirts – attended the school board meetings to show support for teachers.

Norman said a number of Board of Education members were “obviously dismissive in their posture and in the way they treated the teachers.”

Folks, this isn’t going to end any time soon.

Now granted this is fun stuff to watch, but probably detrimental in the end if neither side can get along and work together.

And let’s face it: Neither side will.

Sure, they formed some lame joint education committee, but it’s comprised of members who agree with each other. Duh! Put members who don’t agree on it.

Further, there’s all this talk – every freaking year – about how both sides are going to meet super early in the year and talk about budgets, so that there won’t be any surprises.

Yeah, sure.

Remind me again when that happened?

It didn’t.

And it won’t next year, either.

Candidate Lay ad focuses on families

Patti Jane Lay, who is running against Greg McMillian in the May 6 Republican Primary for the Circuirt Court (Div IV) Judge seat, has released her own ad.

The winner in the Republican Primary advances to the August General Election and face whoever wins the Democratic Primary: either Daniel Kidd or David Valone.

As always, send me your election stuff for publication. Early voting wraps up on Thursday.

Budget presentation locations set

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will present his budget for fiscal year 2015 (which kicks off July 1) at 9 a.m. Thursday in the Main Assembly Room of the Death Star.

Those who can't (or don't want to) attend can check it out online right smack here.

As is typically the case, Burchett then takes the show on the road for the rest of the day, hosting a series of public meetings in each commission district to let folks ask questions about the proposal.

For a full list of locations, click right smack here.

Henley Bridge project time-lapse

Check out this incredible hand-edited time-lapse movie of the Henley Bridge project, courtesy of TDOT. It covers the progress from December 2010 to this January.

E-Warning system set to go online

The county’s “e-warning” mass notification system that has the ability to instantly warn residents of approaching storms is almost up and running.

Officials will use the system to quickly provide emergency telephone, text, or email notices to every one of its residents at one time or focus only on a single neighborhood or street corner if need be.

The plan is to call a press conference in the next few days to a week to go over how folks can sign up for it.

To read our story, which we broke first almost a year ago, click right smack here.

Knox splash pads open for the season

Knox County Parks and Recreation will open its splash pads for the 2014 season on Saturday, according to latest county spin deal.

Splash pads are automated water playgrounds for kids of all ages. Knox County’s splash pads are located at three parks: Carl Cowan Park, New Harvest Park and Powell Station Park. They are open, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. spring through fall.

For more information click right smack here.

McMillian ad focuses on 'beginning'

Greg McMillian, who is running against Patti Jane Lay, in the May 6 Republican Primary for the Circuit Court (Div. IV) judge seat, has released another campaign ad, this one entitled "From the Beginning."

It's designed to highlight his early entry into the race and lay out his plan to make "much needed changes . . . (in a) court that has for far too long been known for limited court hours, excessively long dockets, and extremely long delays in the resolution of cases," according to the release.

The winner in the Republican Primary advances to the August General Election and face whoever wins the Democratic Primary: either Daniel Kidd or David Valone.

As always, shoot me over your election stuff.

Check out McMillan's video below:

Early voting wraps up this Thursday

Cliff Rodgers

The Knox County Election Commission just sent out a note, reminding folks that this is the last week of early voting for the May 6 primaries. 

Early voting wraps up May 1. There are 10 locations across the county and all except the City County Building location are open from:

11 am to 7 pm on Monday and Tuesday (Noon to 5 pm at the C/C Bldg.), and

·         9 am to 7 pm on  Wednesday and Thursday (Noon to 5 pm on Wednesday and noon to 7 pm on Thursday at the C/C Bldg.).

“Early voting is a flexible and convenient option for many voters,” said Administrator of Elections Cliff Rodgers. “Voters enjoy avoiding lines often present on Election Day.” 

Rodgers emphasized that, “it is especially critical for voters to consider voting early in this particular election since all Knox County schools will be open on May 6 (It's not an in-service day - students will be present) and parking will be scarce.

During school hours, parking will be scarce and—at times—virtually non-existent. “I am very concerned about folks with disabilities and our senior citizens not finding a place to park if they vote in a school,” Rogers said.

Moreover, at some schools, because of the lay-out of the school, voters will have to be “buzzed-in” by school security. If voters whose polling place is a school choose to wait until Election Day, then Rodgers suggested that they vote after schools have been dismissed.

A sample ballot, as well as a list of early voting locations, can be found on the election website, right here.  If you have any questions, call the election commission at 215-2480.

A look at teacher salary increases

Since, there’s so much misinformation (from both sides) regarding the proposed teacher raises, I figure I’d do my public service and provide folks with the accurate breakdown.

A little background: The school system wants to give teachers (and some others) a 2.5 percent raise. The school people, though, want the county to pay for a majority of it (which isn’t going to happen).

So, the school system is ready to put up $1.67 million to cover a .7 percent raise.

The school system is then asking the county to pay for a 1.8 percent increase. That will cost $4.55 million.

Total cost: $6.2 million.

There’s been some question about who will get the raises. Will it all go to “real classroom” teachers?

No, it won’t.

According to the good Melissa Ogden, of the combined $6.2 million in raises:

• Roughly 86 percent ($5.37 million) goes to teachers “and other school level personnel" (EXCLUDES principals, assistant principals, nurses, psychologists, social workers, central office personnel, assisted tech support, etc.).
• “All other certified employees” will make up the other 14 percent of the cost ($885,250).

Now, in addition to the proposed 2.5 percent, the school system also is covering step raises, which can amount to a $400-$600 bump. That will cost $3.5 million.

Hunnicutt says up-to-date on bill

Jason Hunnicutt

Jason Hunnicutt, a candidate for the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk’s seat, said he’s current on all bills from the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Last week, we reported that Hunnicutt was facing civil action after the hospital had a summons issued for him.  It said he owed $486.64 and another $162 in court costs.

Hunnicutt, who says he still hasn't been served, faces Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond and local attorney Steve Williams in the Republican primary. Incumbent Joy McCroskey opted not to seek re-election. No Democrats filed to run, so whoever wins on May 6 will begin serving a four-year term at the beginning of September.

He said he wasn’t sure whether the bill was paid before or after the summons, which he still hasn’t received, was issued.

“I don’t want to get into a nitpicking contest of the chick or the egg . . . but I’m glad it’s paid,” he said. That’s cool. Hunnicutt is a good dude and personally I don’t think he just said “the heck with that, I’m not paying it.”

The Paywall Paper, which never could figure out how to get a copy of the summons, talked to the hospital, which verified the bill was paid. I put in some calls, but haven't heard back. 

Anyhoo, I'm out.

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.