Mike Padgett, former Knox County Clerk announced today his intention to run against United States Senator Lamar Alexander. I am convinced that my lawyer buddy and blogging friend Rob Huddleston of Voluntarily Conservative has more name recognition statewide than Padgett does. That is not a slam, Rob. It is meant to be complimentary.

Mike served on the Knox County School Board while I was a student in Knox County Schools and heck I am 41 years of age. After a brief stint on the School Board, Mike ran for Knox County Clerk, while he is real good at taking a check or cash in exchange for a license plate. While he may make a pretty good pot of chili. None of that qualifies him to be a member of the United States Senate.

Heads up to the Tennessee Republican Party. Mike Padgett ignored the will of the citizens of Knox County when he ran for re-election in 2006 with a total disregard for the term limit provision of the Charter. Call Knox County and ask for a copy of that audit that was conducted last year following his departure as County Clerk on January 31, 2007. That audit tells the citizens of this state all that they need to know about the record of public service of one Mike Padgett.