Look for a new issue to be raised in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Opponents of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam know that the Pilot Travel Centers in Nevada include adjacent slot machines and advertise as “casinos,” though the issue thus far has been raised only by also-ran candidate Joe Kirkpatrick. He has brought it up on blog comments and at the Tea Party convention gubernatorial forum in Gatlinburg last weekend.

via MetroPulse Pilot Casinos Could Become Election Issue.

House leaders presented a state budget plan Tuesday that clashes with a Senate plan in several ways, though both chambers agree on ditching Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plans to raise new revenue by changes in the state’s tax code.

The differences between the House and Senate plans are relatively small in an overview of the proposed $28 billion budget, but leaders of the two chambers appeared adamant in their positions. The dispute makes it likely that the Legislature will be unable to complete the 2010 session this week, as many had hoped

via Tom Humphrey House-Senate Budget Differences Laid Out (Well, Sorta).

A Wamp news release sent to media statewide said Haslam has “co-mingled and co-invested” $2 million of his money, along with $750,000 each from his father and brother, with city funds, and government grants and tax credits to underwrite the development, “which is now 100 percent privately owned by Haslam, his family and co-owner.”

“The mixing of personal investment funds with the taxpayer money you oversee for your own gain or profit represents a serious breach of ethics,” said Sam Edelen, Wamp campaign spokesperson. “Yet that’s exactly what Mayor Haslam did when he co-mingled his own personal money, as well as investments from family members, with funding from the city of Knoxville on a private real estate development he now owns.

via KnoxNews Wamp criticizes Haslam’s role in downtown theater.

and Nashville Scene: Haslam Fends Off Wamp Attack

Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett said today he fired a longtime employee for trying to register a stolen car.

Phylicia Washington had worked for the clerk’s office for 14 years, Arnett said. He said he learned May 12 that Washington had tried to register the car.

A routine check uncovered the attempt, he said.

via KnoxNews Clerk’s employee fired over attempt to register stolen car.

Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett on Wednesday said he has shut down the East Knoxville satellite office at Five Points in order to save money “in really tough economic times.”

The three employees at the office have been transferred to other satellite locations, he said, and East Knoxville residents still have easy access to the downtown office and the one at Knoxville Center.

via KnoxNews  Clerk’s office at Five Points shuttered.

Independent candidate Lewis Cosby pulled out of the Knox County mayoral race on Wednesday, a day after the primary, and threw his support to the Republican nominee.

via KnoxNews  Cosby drops out of Knox County mayoral race; says he’ll back Burchett.

and VolunteerTV Cosby quits mayor’s race, will support Burchett

and WBIR Lewis Cosby drops out of Knox County mayoral race to support Tim Burchett

Longtime Knox County educator Roy Mullins on Tuesday led the balloting in the 8th District Knox County school board race, collecting 43 percent of the vote.

He was followed by retired social studies teacher Mike McMillan, who netted 27 percent.

They beat out two other candidates. Both Mullins and McMillan advance to the August general election, where the final winner will be decided.

via Roy Mullins, Mike McMillan advance in school board race.

Foster Arnett Jr. pledged to bring further efficiencies to the Knox County Clerk’s office as voters gave him a second term Tuesday night.

Arnett, 54, won re-election with nearly 73 percent of the Republican primary vote over former clerk’s office employee Debbie Cole, according to unofficial returns.

The incumbent has no other challenger to face in the August general election.

via Incumbent Arnett bests Cole in primary, secures 2nd term.

With all precincts reporting, perhaps the biggest surprise in the Knox County Commission’s four contested races Tuesday was the defeat of incumbent Paul Pinkston in the 9th District.

The budget guru and chairman of the powerful Finance Committee was beaten by Mike Brown for the seat in the re-shaped and reduced County Commission.

Brown garnered 55 percent of the vote.

via Paul Pinkston upset in 9th District primary.