Yesterday, the public forum portion of the Knox County Commission meeting generated a lot of folks using their time to express a desire to fund the additional $35 million that the School Board has asked for or opposition to the awarding of $35 million increase. One citizen below shared that he had heard that Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett had been threatening Commissioners. After the meeting Mayor Burchett’s Chief of Staff Dean Rice informed the gentleman that there is no basis of fact to the rumor. The gentleman said he was glad to hear that.
A recent West High School graduate (as in this past Saturday night) spoke to Commissioners in support of the increased funding. Rumor has been circulating that the young man had been recruited by the “Support Our Schools” to challenge Commissioner Jeff Ownby in 2016. The young man has reportedly informed certain individuals that’s his intent. However, he apparently was quoted in the May 7th Shopper that he will be running for School Board in 2014, against Lynne Fugate we assume.
So, the Support Our Schools folks are recruiting candidates before the vote is even held for the Mayor’s budget? That would be threats, wouldn’t it?
