Knoxville Tennessee Blog

The movement to amend Knox County’s Charter to include a recall provision is growing rapidly.

Recall Amendment leader Brian Paone of Knox County’s 4th District said, “The people aren’t going away on this one, if they won’t deal with it we will.”

That is leadership. That is what Knox County needs right now.

Mr. Paone’s group has contacted all of the Knox County Commissioners, County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Law Director John Owings, and the Knox County Election Commission.

The message is very clear. The people demand leadership. If County Commission and the County Mayor cannot provide that leadership then the people will.

Yet sadly, or should I say typically, the response has been underwhelming; of the remaining 11 County Commissions only two have said they will support the request that Knox County Commission vote to approve the Recall Amendment. One Commissioner, Paul Pinkston, is opposed to the amendment and the other Commissioners are “undecided”.

Some of the excuses are quite pitiful. Commissioner R. Larry Smith said he, “has misgivings about how recall might be used in close elections.” Smith doesn’t even understand the amendment. Craig Leuthold says he will not discuss the Recall Amendment outside of a public meeting. Is he confused about the Sunshine Law or just afraid to confront the question? Commissioner Mike Hammond, who some think will run for County Mayor in 2010, is concerned about other districts having say in recall of district representatives. So will Commissioner Hammond now be recusing himself from all votes not in his District?

That is pitiful. The exact opposite of leadership. I agree with Brian Paone, lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Brian Paone is mad as hell, but he is doing something about it. Mr. Paone has offered Knox County Commission both a challenge and a promise.

The challenge is for County Commission to live up to its recent commitment to insure better government. Paone wants County Commission to create a resolution in November to place a recall referendum on the ballot to amend the Knox County Charter to include a recall provision.

The promise to Commission is that if they choose not to pass the resolution for recall Paone and the citizens of Knox County will take the matter into their own hands with a petition drive.

So do you think County Commission will pass a resolution for recall?

Neither do I. Why not get started today? You can download the petition here. Have people sign in ink and hand deliver the petitions to the Knox County Election Commission at the Knox County Courthouse, #218, 300 Main St. in downtown Knoxville.