The Halls Republican Club met this evening, Knox Co Law Director candidate Nathan Rowell, Knox Co. Property Assessor candidates Andrew Graybeal and Jim Weaver were the Speakers. Last month, Law Director candidate Richard Armstrong and Property Assessor candidate John Whitehead were the featured Speakers.
The media (other than BrianHornback.Com) were present tonight probably for Andrew Graybeal and for Phil Ballard’s Chief Deputy.
Andrew Graybeal discussed a property a couple of miles from the meeting location, that was purchased for in excess of $470,000, a loan in excess of $460,000 but the property assessment is less than half of that. It is believed that the property is the Hotel Avenue property in Fountain City owned by former County Commissioner Robert Lawrence Smith, who has contributed $1,000 to the campaign of Graybeal and Whitehead’s opponent. Smith’s wife Sharon has also donated $1,000 to the campaign of Graybeal and Whitehead’s opponent.
Phil Ballard‘s Chief Deputy Jim Weaver spoke and was asked by a Mrs. Cry about where he would cut 5% of his budget. He said with the purchase of technology of tablets, he could eliminate two employees. So, on Tuesday the Knox Co Property Assessor employees will be meeting around the coffee pot, drawing straws to see who if Weaver is elected will be cut.
In addition, I asked Weaver about the Treasurer of his campaign being the Chairman of the Board of Equalization. He said that by law he could name himself or his wife but he chose Archie Johnson. Because he knows Johnson and would trust Johnson with his checkbook. However, that is not what he was reported to say last Wednesday in the Knoxville Mercury newspaper, here.
“Weaver says he sees no conflict of interest. “Somehow that’s implying he and I could control something, and that’s just not true,” says Weaver, who says Johnson isn’t a personal friend.”
So, his wife surely must have been aggravated that he admitted to the Halls Republican Club that he could not trust his wife or himself with the campaign checkbook.
