While state and federal elections (at least here in Oak Ridge) are somewhat uninspiring this year, with many races either uncontested or practically so, our municipal election has drawn an unusually high number of candidates. That there are several open seats where incumbents chose not to run—two on City Council and two on the Board of Education—is probably the reason for the larger number of candidates.
Ten are running for four seats on City Council, while eight are competing for three seats on the Board of Education.
The League of Women Voters is doing its usual outstanding job of hosting candidate forums, but despite standing-room-only attendance at the first of those, it’s inevitable that not everyone was able to attend. Fortunately, several other interested groups have also scheduled candidate forums or meet-and-greet events: the Oak Ridge Schools’ PTA/PTO Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and Democracy for East Tennessee.
It’s important to get to know the people who seek to represent you, to hear their views on issues of interest, and to see how they respond to questions.
Unfortunately, one member of Council who is not up for election this year is seeking to eliminate some of these opportunities, based on the fact that they’re scheduled to be held on city property. The Chamber of Commerce is situated on land leased from the city, although they own the building. The PTA/PTO forums will be held at Oak Ridge High School, and have been promoted through the schools (as most PTA/PTO activities are).
So long as all candidates are invited (they have been) and given equal opportunity to speak (they will be), there is no conflict. Just as there was no conflict in previous Chamber of Commerce candidate forums in which Trina Baughn herself participated, as a candidate in 2012. Our PTA/PTO organizations recognize that these elections are of great import to those interested in our schools and are fulfilling their mission of service to the schools and parents by participating.
Councilwoman Baughn claims to be requesting that the city attorney file “an immediate injunction†that would prohibit the Chamber of Commerce from hosting any candidate events. This would, in effect, eliminate the only scheduled candidate forum that takes place at any time of day other than evening.
She further objects to former Mayor David Bradshaw moderating the PTA/PTO forum on the grounds that he is involved with the Chamber of Commerce’s newly-established political action committee. Would said injunction also affect other groups hosting forums on city property?
The Chamber of Commerce, our parent-teacher associations, and other citizens who put forth a great deal of volunteer time and effort toward strengthening our community do not deserve this harassment. Oak Ridge has long allowed used of city facilities for political gatherings—including partisan gatherings at the Civic Center and public library. Facilitating the public’s ability to interact with candidates for public office is a good policy to continue.
This is Oak Ridge: We have a long history of public involvement, for which we credit the outstanding government we’ve enjoyed for many years. Just as any entity—family, club, town, whatever—we have our disagreements, but we work through them together for the common good. Let’s encourage these groups to go forward with their candidate forums and show up to learn all that we can.
Friends of Oak Ridge Schools (FORS)
Fernanda Foertter, Linda Gilpin, Donna Butcher, and Jutta Bangs
Trina Baughn says
As Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story:
http://trinabaughn.com/2014/09/22/injunction-request-against-the-oak-ridge-chamber-of-commerce/
John –
I am told that the president/chair of the PTO/PTA Council is the spouse of a candidate. Can you verify?
johnhuotari says
Trina,
I apologize for the delayed response, but it looked like Kelly responded to your question fairly quickly. Did that answer your question?
Thank you,
John
Joseph Lee says
Is it 2016 yet?
Donna Butcher says
Perhaps all members of CC with kids in our schools should recuse themselves from school votes. Perhaps all members of BOE should recuse themselves from school votes. Perhaps anyone that attend an OR school should recuse themselves from school votes. Perhaps anyone that lives in the city should recuse themselves from any vote that affects Oak Ridge.
Kelly Callison says
Oh the drama of it all John! You don’t need to bother to answer the question about who is related to whom and where they serve. From my web site http://www.kellycallison.com I have extracted several paragraphs that show my wife’s and my involvement in the Oak Ridge Community. There are no nefarious secret dealings going on! I guess some would suggest that candidates should not be involved in any activity related to the community. I am of the opposite mind – I would like to make sure my elected leaders are totally involved so that when they vote on issues they see the impacts of those votes on the whole of the community not just their own little sphere.
We came to Oak Ridge seven years ago and have been active in the community from the beginning. I am vice chairman of the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, a member of the East Tennessee Economic Council, a member of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Task Force, a board member of Contact CareLine, President of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club (ORBRC), and a member of the Oak Ridge Chapter of the League of Woman Voters.
With twin seven-year-old boys in second grade at Linden Elementary School, I and my wife Stacey have a vested interest in the long term success of Oak Ridge Schools. Callison is a board member of the Oak Ridge Public School Education Foundation, and Stacey Callison serves as president of the Superintendent’s PTO/PTA Council.