Lola Alapo was a guest on the Hubert Smith Radio Show today and was asked about the airplane and she said that she asked and was told “it was a private citizen doing a favor for a private citizen.”
Brian’s Blog has asked three members (1/3) of the school board and one school board member – elect and they all remain tight lipped. Brian’s Blog has asked Russ Oaks, the PR guy for Knox County Schools and he has not been forthcoming.
However, we have it on good authority that the plane was an aircraft of Pilot Corporation and Jim Haslam. The father of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam. Why are they so tight lipped about it?
Could it be the perception of a major contributor to the School Board Chair’s re-election campaign providing a free jet airplane for the next probable Superintendent is a bad perception?
On the campaign financial disclosure statement dated January 29, 2008 Karen Carson received not only the $4,500.00 from the Public Trust PAC but, Susan Whitney Haslam gave $500.00, James Haslam II gave $500.00, James Haslam III gave $500.00, Susan Haslam gave $500.00 and Bill Haslam gave $200.00
So, $2,200.00 from the Haslam family on the pre-primary financial disclosure. What kind of perception is that when Mayor Haslam has a one on one and the use of his families airplane?
