Morning Update

In case you missed it yesterday, State Senator Jamie Woodson has tendered her resignation to the State Senate, effective at the end of session, to join SCORE as their CEO.

The Knox County Commission will have to select a replacement to Senator Woodson. It looks like a special election could be held to coincide with the Knoxville city election on September 27th. Could end up being the race to watch.

In state news, the Republicans are pushing a bill to require photo IDs to vote. Democrats are worried the bill will “intimidate or otherwise disenfranchise legitimate voters” where “legitimate voters” really means “illegal voters”. The bill could end up disenfranchising dead people and moving the state closer to the out-dated one-person-one-vote idea. Rumor is the Democrats are afraid they won’t be able to win any elections in Memphis if this passes.

Candidates for City Council have disclosed their fundraising numbers. Not many candidates and very little money raised. It’s still pretty early. These races should start to heat up soon.

The Knox County Clerk’s office had three more former employees arraigned yesterday. Looks like Foster Arnett is still cleaning up after Mike Padgett.

A little inside baseball here, but this story about some local (one might say liberal) non-profits and their lobbying efforts before the county commission is not as innocent as they would have you believe. For example, the League of Women Voters has two separate organizations, a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4). 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from lobbying or losing their tax-exempt status. Their contention is that is a federal rule and only applies to federal legislative bodies. Their 501(c)(4) does allow them to lobby. So what’s the issue? Organizationally, the person that was lobbying before commission was from the 501(c)(3) and not the 501(c)(4). Honestly, I don’t think there would be a media cover story like this if it was a conservative 501(c)(3).

Morning Roundup

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett on Monday officially eliminated severance packages for all employees who fall under the executive branch’s purview, a move made after his predecessor months ago handed out payouts to three department heads who quit.

Knox County Clerk Foster D. Arnett Jr. has withdrawn his name from the race for city mayor, saying he still has a job to complete in his current position.

Another bio article on our new Republican Governor Bill Haslam. I believe this is another installment in an really in-depth look at Governor Haslam. Good stuff.

The six have filed applications with the Knoxville City Council office, seeking the council’s appointment Thursday to replace Councilman Bob Becker.

Republican Governor Bill Haslam announced the formation of a blind trust to hold his private investments, with the exception of Pilot Corp and a real estate investment outside Tennessee.

And via Instapundit, in national news, an effort to recall Sheriff Dupnik has been started.

After trying to register a stolen car, Clerk’s employee fired

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.

Arnett bests Cole in primary

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.