Tonight three of the four Knoxville City Council District 2 candidates participated in a civil debate format. Candidate Andrew Roberto was a no show. No Red Lobster lobster tanks were busted and no lobsters were harmed at this gathering.

In other news, Martin Daniel, a West Knoxville State Representative that voted for the gas tax spent about 2 minutes explaining what appeared to be news that he was not going to run for a third term to inform the club he is “intending” to run for a third term. It was odd, it was like he was creating his own news.

Former County Commissioner Robert Lawrence Smith first introduced himself as McCalla, a failed attempt at getting laughs. Then said he was running for County Commission again, “the experienced candidate”, he said. He did not explain what experience he relying on. Is it violating the Sunshine law as a Black Wednesday Commissioner? Is it his experience from a February 2017 Knox County Sheriff’s Incident Report and Investigation? Read it here.

Also after the meeting ended, I was able to ask Charlie Susano, candidate for Knox County Circuit Court Clerk the same question I publicly asked the other three candidates for Clerk at the Halls Republican Club meeting a month ago, will you hire the current clerk in a capacity if your elected? He said NO, he will not.