No WhiteWash!

The Kingsport Times-News article, Longtime volunteer Parham seeking seat on Kingsport BMA , revealed that Tom Parham’s election efforts show that he agrees with the “gang of five”.  Mr. Parham does not present any grand ideas, except that he agrees with what has been done so far.

Clearly, the elites are ganging up to ‘”stack the deck” with candidates that mimics their thinking.  Tom Parham’s campaign team of Jeanette Blazier, Mike O’Neil, and Ken Maness is absolutely as “establishment” as you can get.  These folks are all big spenders.  The Tom Parham team had their chance when they were BMA members.  Now, it is time for new direction.

This also looks like a re-run of the Jantry Shupe campaign (Mrs. Blazier and other “chamber” types helping him).   Since Alderman Jantry Shupe was elected about two years ago, we can see that he almost always votes with the “gang of five” and hardly ever has much to say about the issues.

This election is not about special interest groups.  It is an election for the citizens of Kingsport to elect BMA members that reflect their views on the direction that the city should go.  The citizens need to tell the elites, that this election cannot not be won with the elites money.

From what I see so far about Tom Parham, you might as well call him “Dennis Jr.”.

Is this what the citizens want?  Read the Times-News link above, make comments on the Times-News webpage and also here.

Please leave a comment.

Will the Kingsport Times-News provide ample coverage for the upcoming City of Kingsport election.  There are four seats on the Board of Mayor and Alderman that are available for candidates to campaign for?

The local newspaper in my view has shown in the past, that it can be biased when it comes to political office coverage.

The top management at the Kingsport Time-News needs to report unbiased coverage concerning the candidates and should not reflect the top management views.

The newspaper needs to avoid being labeled as part of the “good old boys” club.  There are members of top management that have received political appointments by the current embattled mayor.

Do the right thing and report fairly to the readers that buy your product.

Below is Kingsport City Code concerning political activity by city officers, and employees.

Sec. 6. Political activity by city officers, employees.

To the extent permitted by federal law and except as provided by state law, neither the city manager, city attorney, recorder, city judge, chief of police, nor any person in the employ of the city under any of the said officers, shall take any active part in or contribute any money toward the nomination or election of any candidates for election to any municipal office of the city, except to answer such questions as may be put to them as they may desire to answer. A violation of this section shall subject the offender to removal from office or employment and to punishment by fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

(Pvt. Acts 1917, Ch. 76, Art. 2, § 6; Pvt. Acts 1980, Ch. 244, § 2; Pvt. Acts 2001, § 3)

Editor’s note: It should be noted that the Public Employees Political Freedom Act of 1980, T.C.A. §§ 8-50-601–8-50-604, guarantees public employees’ right to communicate with elected public officials for any job-related purpose.

Sec. 7. Political promises.

No candidate for any office nor any person shall directly or indirectly give or promise any person or persons any office, employment, money, benefit, or anything of value for the purpose of influencing or obtaining political support, aid or vote for such candidate, and any person violating this provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

(Pvt. Acts 1917, Ch. 76, Art. 2, § 7)

Kingsport, it’s seems likes to talk about all the success that it is experiencing, but one needs to ask the question, if Kingsport is doing all that well, then why don’t they use some of that money from that success and pay for projects instead of borrowing money.

It appears that this ramped up spinning started the day that Eastman Chemical announced the $100 million cost reduction.  Part of this cost reduction was that no Eastman Chemical employee would get wage/salary increases in 2009.

There has been many newspaper articles about this success lately and the Kingsport Times-News has announced that there will be many more to come.  Some of the newspaper articles are poorly researched and it is very clear to this blogger, that the author of the newspaper is not doing investigative reporting.  It appears that the newspaper is taking the City of Kingsport word as the gospel.

An example of spinning data was reported by Jeff Fleming, Kingsport Assistant City Manager, that the Kingsport area (Sullivan County) had the 3rd best unemployment rate in Tennessee.  What Jeff Fleming conveniently failed to do is mention that the City of Kingsport rate was 7.2 percent.  You can check it out yourself by going to the link: Kingsport Area = 3rd Lowest Unemployment in Tennessee.  The first part of the post that Jeff Fleming is the press release from the State of Tennessee.  The percentages posted at the bottom are from Jeff Fleming’s selected extraction of data from the Tennessee numbers.  Also, see previous post on a citizen reaction to City of Kingsport claims and Tennessee – November 2008 Unemployment rate for Tri-Cities area.

There may be a concern in the City of Kingsport about the public perception of the Tax, Borrow, and Spend label that has been given to city leaders.  It is quite possible that the “spin” the city has been doing lately is to justify all the spending.

Also, it is an election year where four Board of Mayor and Alderman positions are up for grabs.

The Kingsport Times-News is a willing participant in the spin on how great things are going.  But, one needs to look at the role of the top two management positions at the newspaper.  Keith Wilson who is the publisher and Ted Como as editor are not exactly innocent and unbiased bystanders.

These two newspaper people are deeply involved with the City of Kingsport and economic development in the region.  You could do a goggle search on Keith Wilson and Ted Como to see for yourself their involvement in local government affairs.

It is difficult if not impossible to find a politician, whether early in their career or a political office veteran, who has not given in to political pressure, special interest groups, lobbyists, or the good-old-boy-network practice of you-help-my-cause-and-I’ll-help-yours

There is nothing wrong about talking about success, but please cut out the spinning of data.

There are four positions on the Kingsport, Tennessee Board of Mayor and Alderman that are available for the term starting on July 1, 2009.

The current BMA members whose terms will expire are Mayor Dennis Phillips, Alderman Valerie Joh, Alderman Ben Mallicote (the vice mayor) and Alderman Pat Shull.

Any person who is a qualified voter of the city and who has resided within the city for at least one (1) year next preceding the election shall be eligible to election to the office of mayor or alderman.

Residence within any area annexed in a year preceding an election shall be counted in meeting the residence requirement of this section.

The City is governed by a seven member Board of Mayor and Aldermen, elected at-large and on a non-partisan basis for four-year staggered terms. The exception to this rule is that the Mayor is elected at-large for a two year term. Elections are held in May during odd numbered years. The new Board of Mayor and Alderman is seated on July 1 of each election year.

If you have a desire to be on the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman, you will need to pick up your petition at the below location.   The deadline to submit completed petitions is noon on February 19, 2009.  25 signatures from registered voters are required on the petition.

City elections:  2009 schedule

Feb. 19 – Candidate petitions due in county elections office
April 20 – Last day of voter registration.
April 29 to May 14 – Early voting period.
May 19 – Election Day

I am sure that most of you have had enough of elections lately, however there will be an election to elect members of the Kingsport, Tennessee Board of Mayor and Aldermen whose terms expire June 30, 2008.  The BMA members with expiring terms are listed below.

The election will be held in May, 2009 and candidates should be making their announcements sometime in the first quarter of 2009

Mayor Dennis Phillips

Vice Mayor Ben Mallicote

Alderman Valerie Joh

Alderman Pat Shull

Below, are the results of the last election for the City of Kingsport, TN. The number of people voting in this election has a lot to be desired for a city that has a population about 45,000. In the chart below, Dennis Phillips was elected as Mayor and Marsh, Munsey and Shupe were elected as Alderman. It is quite apparent that people are not getting involved in local politics, but do have an issue with the local politicians when things don’t go their way

There are a total of seven BMA positions that are determined by local elections. The BMA members choose the position of Vice Mayor. There are a five Alderman, Mayor, and Vice Mayor that make a total of seven votes on the Board of Mayors, and Alderman.

If you are happy with the current direction that the current BMA is going, then that is fine. But, if you have concerns, then you need to get involved and cast your vote.

Taxing Tennessee blog has the details.  It might be a little cool for this in Tennessee.

Hopefully, there will not be anything to investigate, but the assistant U.S Attorney located in Greeneville, TN and the FBI will handle complaints of fraud or civil right violation in the November 4, 2008 election.  Read more on voter fraud.

There are a great number of organizations that help voters understand the issues and where candidates stand on them.  Family Action Council of Tennessee deals with many issues that deal with families.  Some of the issues are as follows:

They have a neat web site and I would encourage you to visit.  They keep up with the bills in the Tennessee Senate and House that affect the above areas.

They also have a survey for candidates that are running for office to indicate whether or not they support or oppose an issue.  There are 13 questions in the survey and they are below.

Also, you can go to the “Voter’s Guide – Tennessee House & Senate”.  If you do not see the information for the candidate you are looking  for, then try the link above for “Your District Only”.

Do you support or oppose:

1. Abstinence Education: Allowing local school systems to use “abstinence only” curriculum in connection with sex education classes?
2. Parental Rights: Prohibiting public school based mental examinations from being performed on students without express written consent from parents?
3. “Voluntary” PreK: Keeping enrollment in and attendance of pre-kindergarten classes voluntary?
4. Abortion – Amendment: Amending the state constitution relative to abortion to include the language found in SJR 127 as adopted by the Tennessee Senate in the 105th General Assembly?
5. Abortion – Full Vote: Voting to bring to the floor for a vote by the membership of the body to which you are elected a resolution to amend the state constitution to make it silent on the issue of abortion if the resolution becomes stalled in any subcommittee or committee of that body?
6. RU-486 Restrictions: Requiring doctors who prescribe the abortifacient RU-486 either to follow the Food and Drug Administration’s protocol for use of the drug or to inform the woman in writing that they are not following the protocol?
7. Adult Business Regs.: Regulating sexually-oriented businesses to the fullest extent allowed by law?
8. Limit Obscene TV Ads: Prohibiting television stations and cable television companies from advertising or promoting the sale of materials that are obscene for minors during the hours from 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.?
9. Religious Freedom: Enacting a state law patterned after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act relative to state action and state law?
10. Civil Unions: Giving legal recognition to “civil unions” or “domestic partnerships” between people of the same sex?
11. Domestic Partner Benefits: Requiring, as a condition of providing goods and services to state or local government, that employers provide “domestic partner” benefits to unmarried heterosexual couples or to homosexual couples.
12. Sexual Orientation Rights: Including sexual orientation or preference under Tennessee’s equivalent of the federal civil rights laws?
13. Elected Judges: Open and contested elections for judges on the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals such as were held before the current process of Gubernatorial appointment followed by unopposed retention elections?

I provided information in a post a few weeks ago concerning early voting in  Sullivan County,  Tennessee.  I was surprised to see the huge number of hits on my blog desiring information on upcoming elections.  Based on what I am seeing, I think there is a very good possibility of record voter turnout.

I am sure that there are many that have concerns with some of the political decisions that have been made in the past.  Now is the time for you to have a voice in who gets elected.  Do your research and then cast your vote.

Do not forget the local levels also.  There may be some that may be inclined to run for Board of Mayor and Alderman.  For example there are four positions in the Kingsport BMA that expire June 30, 2009.

Mayor Dennis Phillips, Vice Mayor Ben Malicote, Alderman Pat Shull, and Alderman Valerie Joh terms will expire.  Don’t know if they will be trying for another term, but the field is open to new candidates.

As we get closer to the local election, this blog will become active in providing information.

As noted below, the last day to register to vote  is October 6, 2008.

State General Election

Date:
November 4, 2008

Last Date to Register:
October 6, 2008

Early Voting:
October 15th , 2008
through
October 30th , 2008

Offices to be Elected:
President and Vice President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representative, TN Senate (Even#’d districts), TN House of Representatives

Tennessee Division of Elections

Tennessee Democratic Party

Tennessee Republican Party

Tennessee Ethics Commission

Tennessee Registry of Election Finance