To the Editor:
Seven County Commissioners—Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Tim Isbel, Theresa Scott, Mark Alderson, Robert McKamey, and Jerry White—have entered into a conflict of interest by running for seats on the Charter Commission. They have reason to be concerned about their own political lives given the fact that they have been willing to cooperate with Myron Iwanski to take away the rights of the citizens of Anderson County.
In fact, that is the reason the drive for a charter form of government was started: to restore the rights of citizens to choose their leaders and make sure the authority of those whom the citizens elect is not taken away. Sad to say, Jerry White (District 5) and Tim Risden (District 1) said at a recent candidate forum that they were against the Charter Commission—an effort to restore Anderson County citizens’ rights. In the same spirit as other county commissioners attempting to be placed on the Charter Commission that would write Anderson County’s charter, Mr. White called the effort a “smokescreen,” but failed to provide the audience with evidence of his charge.
But there is no “smokescreen” on my part when I say the right to choose the law director should never have been taken from Anderson County residents. Law Director Jay Yeager has become the political ally of Myron Iwanski that needs to control the County Commission and has cost tax-payers hundreds of thousands of dollars in frivolous lawsuits and fraudulent charges against county officials (for example, the sheriff suit and David Crowley).
Charter Commission organizers wish to impose term limits on only two political offices of the county—the county mayor and county commissioners. No “smokescreen” here, Mr. White. Mayor Terry Frank is not calling the effort to limit the number of times she can run for that office a “smokescreen,” but is supporting the efforts of the citizens to take back their rights.
We can understand why county commissioners are loudly complaining, calling it a “smokescreen,” because their offices are on the line and their health insurance and other perks will be lost if they are no longer commissioners.
Many of their constituents would like to have their part-time jobs and receive the perks commissioners receive.
Enough of the screaming “smokescreen” of Steve Mead, Jerry White, and other commissioners who wish to continue to take away the rights of Anderson County voters! It is sad we had to go to this effort, but our commissioners have been failing us for some time.
That is the reason I encourage fellow residents of Anderson County to take back county government that our commissioners have taken from us. For Charter Commission vote for: Floyd Grisham (District 1); Jim Cooper (District 2); Dusty Irwin (District 3); Dennis Hashbarger (District 4); Howard Farmer (District 5); Hugh Ward (District 6); David Stanley (District 7); and Kathy Moore (District 8).
Lynn Byrge
Anderson County
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Pat Fain says
There is no conflict of interest under Tennessee Law when a sitting county commissioner runs for a seat on the county Charter Commission. Indeed who is better qualified to run than a person currently serving who understands how county government runs today. Most of those running on the deVol ticket have no governmental experience whatsoever, having never been elected to anything and some having never previously attended a commission meeting. They have all signed up to do a thorough look at every office, every function, every purpose for everything that happens in county government and to then write a document that would govern every governmental action, function, service, qualification as well as the complete system of collection and spending of all county tax money. they could change the way the sheriff, the the road commissioner, the auditor, the accountant, the finance director, and just about everything else in government works, who report to who, who controls the computer system, and so on ad infinitum. Do you really want a total amateur who has never served in any capacity in government to design the government of the county?
I postulate that the big push for a Charter Commission was the direct result of the County Commission voting 16-0 to adopt the state law that governs the handling of all money in the county and just incidentally removes all budget and money matters from the sole control of the Mayor and vests them in professionals, several department heads and the Commission, along with the mayor. I postulate that not giving free reign over money to a mayor with little or no oversight or transparency is the underlying reason for the Charter Commission and that talk of term limits is just a straw man to divert the attention of the public.
Joseph Lee says
Ms. Fain, I agree with your comments. Our elected officials are term limited now by folks turning out at the polls and casting their vote. Thank you.
Mark Caldwell says
So Lynn Byrge is just another Trumpian, tea-party, alt-right, sovereign citizen Frank supporter.
Yuck.