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).

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.

Clerk’s office at Five Points shuttered

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.

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.

News Sentinel Endorsements: Burchett, Jones and Arnett

Former sheriff Tim Hutchison and state Sen. Tim Burchett are facing off to replace term-limited incumbent Mike Ragsdale.

We think Burchett is the right choice.

via KnoxNews  Endorsements: Burchett, Maize, Jones and Arnett.