government
Bud Armstrong
A-4 • MARCH 19, 2012 • BEARDEN SHOPPER-NEWS
Joe Jarret
It’s a puzzlement Armstrong won’t take job he just won Why did Joe Jarret resign as Knox County Law Director after losing the GOP primary to Bud Armstrong?
Betty Bean
Why did Armstrong turn down the opportunity to be appointed to the position, which would allow him to advise the committee that’s going to recommend changes to the county charter under which he will be operating? At first blush, Jarret looks like a sore loser who decided to show his opponent up for his lack of experience and credentials. (Armstrong got his law degree in 2008 from Nashville School of Law, a night school which isn’t American Bar Associationaccredited.) Make him look like the dog that chased the school bus and didn’t know what to do when he caught it. But Jarret says that’s not so, and Armstrong isn’t saying anything beyond what’s in his rather puzzling press release about needing time to wind his practice down and consulting the finest legal minds in East Tennessee to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interests. The whole thing would be hard to explain to anyone who’s not From Here, as we say, because explaining starts with the fact that Knox County is essentially a one-party operation and most local races are decided in the Republican primary, making the August general election nothing more than a legal formality. One of the worst byproducts of the system comes into play when an incumbent officeholder loses in the primary. Horror stories
abound about retaliation, absentee-management and malaise among the staff. Historically, interregnums breed mischief, and a lot can happen between March and September. Jarret, whose major political liability is that he’s not From Here, knows those difficulties first hand. He was hired on as chief deputy by former law director Bill Lockett, who resigned in 2010 after pleading guilty to felony theft for stealing more than $60,000 from his former law firm. Jarret did the law director’s job for an assistant’s pay for almost a year while Lockett twisted in the wind. After the resignation, County Commission appointed him to serve out the balance of Lockett’s term. When asked why he’d give up half a year’s salary, Jarrett had a ready answer: “I’ve done all I can do for this office and it’s time for me to move on. For me to sit here and draw a paycheck just because I can isn’t right,” Jarret said. “I just presumed (Armstrong) would be knocking my door down because of how important this (charter revision) is, and since he claimed to be an expert in the charter and in Tennessee law, I thought he’d be anxious to do this.” Jarret recalled that Armstrong regularly told audiences at campaign events that he had put his practice on hold to knock on doors, making the claim that he’s too busy “specious at best.” “His claim that he can’t just abandon his clients is equally without merit, due to the fact that section 3.08 of the charter permits him to dispose of cases while in the county’s employ,” Jarret said. Armstrong, meanwhile, says he’ll see us in September as packs of hungry lawyers line up to apply for the temporary job. Contact Betty Bean at bbeanster@aol. com/.
Donations for churches Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones, Mayor Tim Burchett, Alan Jones and the Rev. Stephen Steele at a ceremony Thursday during which Jones and Burchett each donated $250 from campaign funds to the Concord AME Zion Church and a second $250 to the Original Church of God. Both churches were vandalized with windows broken, as reported in a Shopper-News story by Betty Bean on Feb. 27. Pastors for the Concord AME Zion Church are the Rev. Elaine Steele and the Rev. Stephen Steele. Alan Jones is the pastor of the Original Church of God. The Rev. Elaine Steele said, “We’ve received an outpouring from the community of donations and well wishing through the media. We’re very, very thankful. It truly would have been a stuggle had we not received the help.” The windows were replaced last week. Fourteen of 16 were broken. Photo by T Edwards of TEPHOTOS.com
Qualifying deadline April 5 for state primaries Perhaps the most intriguWith a sigh of relief, most folks thought incessant ing candidate is the blueeyed Bo Pierce, longtime electioneering was over. director of the Knox County Wrong! Housing Authority, expert on the late Cas Walker, and eager participant in Andy Griffith Show reprisals. Bo has never run for ofSandra fice. He emailed the picture Clark at right with a note: “Barney is running. Win with Fife!” There’s a long time to fl esh out the issues and find Next up are the state and out who all the candidates federal primaries for the are, but for now, Bo Pierce is House and Senate. U.S. Rep. in the room and running for John Duncan Jr. has drawn the House. some no-name foes. Others who have picked Gloria Johnson, who’s up petitions for District 89 never seen a ballot she are Democrat Shelley S. doesn’t want to be on, has Breeding and Republicans picked up a petition to run Roger Kane and Joey Mcfor the District 13 seat be- Culley. ing vacated by Rep. Harry Tindell. Upcoming The qualifying deadline Knox County Repubis noon Thursday, April lican Party will host its 5. Already several people Lincoln Day Dinner at 6:30 have picked up and even rep.m. Saturday, March 31, at turned qualifying petitions. Rothchild Catering Center, The usual suspects will 8807 Kingston Pike.Dinprobably win without much ner will be served at 6:30 sweat: Rep. Joe Armstrong, p.m. and the program will Democrat, District 15; Rep. follow at 7:30. Knox County Bill Dunn, Republican, Dis- Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones trict 16; Rep. Steve Hall, and Knox County Register Republican, District 18; and of Deeds Sherry Witt are Rep. Harry Brooks, Repub- co-chairs. U.S. Sen. Bob lican, District 19. Corker will speak. Tickets The fun will start, are $30. Info: Suzanne or though, in the newly creat- Jo, 689-4671. ed District 89 – over in the Knox County ComKarns and Hardin Valley mission will vacate the City area – where four people al- County Building for its ready have picked up a peti- March 19 workshop, meettion and others are rumored ing instead at the Farragut Town Hall. to be interested.
William “Bo” Pierce has figured out what he wants to be when he grows up – a state legislator. He’s a candidate in the Republican Primary for Knox County’s new 89th district seat.
GOSSIP AND LIES ■ Ruth White went to the roof of Powell Middle School last week to photograph a bunch of kids forming “pi” or 3.14 in the yard. She posted her fears on Facebook which led to this exchange: ■ Jake Mabe: You need your trusted assistant who usually stands at the bottom of the ladder and holds your feet ... But my all-time favorite: “Go down and get a picture of some homeless guy under the bridge. Keep the engine running.” ■ Shannon Carey: You forgot, “Get a picture from the middle of the intersection, but try not to get hit.” ■ Sandra Clark’s response: Hey, I didn’t mention that John Evans was spreading ‘zoo doo’ until AFTER you walked around in it for the best shot.” ■ Debbie Raticoff Moss: “LOL. Never a dull moment at the Shopper-News!” ■ Pellissippi State has purchased the old Phillips Consumer Electronics headquarters on Strawberry Plains Pike. The college bought the 32.6-acre property with a 223,000-square-foot building for $10 million. Look for Pellissippi to train workers for jobs such as we once had at ... Phillips. ■ WIVK fired operations manager Mike Hammond and popular evening DJ Jack Ryan. Who’s next? The frog?
LAY’S MARKET Knoxville’s Meat People for Over 100 Years 622 East Jackson Ave. (Near Old City) Knoxville, TN • 522-1147 • Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7-4:30, Fri. 7-5
We accept credit, debit & food stamp cards • All Items subject to stock
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE MONEY SAVING FAMILY PACKS! FREEZER PACK #1 5 Lbs Ground Beef 2 Lbs Chuck Roast 5 Lbs Fries 48 Cnt Mini Beef Burgers 5 Lbs Beef Chopped Steak 24 Cnt Buns for 3 Lbs End Cut Pork Chops Mini Burgers 3 Lbs Corn Dogs 35.5 POUNDS 3 Lbs Boneless Chicken Breast 2 Lbs Stew Vegetables $ 95 2 Lbs Corn +tax
79
FREEZER PACK #2 5 Lbs Fresh Ground Beef 5 Lbs Diced Potato Cubes 5 Lbs Breaded Chicken Tenders 5 Lbs Asst Pork Chops 5 Lbs Cubed Beef Steak 5 Lbs Lay’s Pork BBQ 3 Lbs Cheddar Potato Rounds 3 Lbs Corn Dogs 3 Lbs Sausage Patties 2 Lbs Green Beans
FREEZER PACK #3
2 Lbs Stew Vegetables 2 Lbs Beef Roast 48 Cnt Mini Beef Burgers 24 Cnt Buns for Mini Burgers 8 Cnt Garlic Bread 2 Lbs Boneless Pork Roast
53.25 POUNDS
159
$
95
+tax
5 Lbs Fresh Ground Beef 5 Lbs Diced Potatoes 3 Lbs Boneless Chicken Breasts 5 Lbs Chicken Fries 5 Lbs Lay’s Pork BBQ 5 Lbs Sliced American Cheese 6-8 oz Beef Ribeyes 10 Cnt Breaded Boneless Pork Chops 10 Cnt Breaded Cntry-Fried Steaks 2 Lbs Lean Boneless Beef Stew 2 Lbs Chicago Beef Dogs 3 Lbs Bone-in Pork Roast
1 Lb Kielbasa 48 Cnt Mini Burgers 24 Cnt Buns for mini Burgers 1 Box Sausage Links 1 Bag Apple Sticks 2 Lbs Corn 4 Cnt Cheesy bread
54.5 POUNDS
189
$
95
+tax
Please no substitutions on Freezer Packs. Freezer Packs always available. Prices good through April 30 • Visit us at www.laysmarket.com