Knox County is overwhelmingly Republican. The voters speak every election cycle and a vast majority of citizens cast their ballots believing that Knox county is governed best when governed by Republicans.
Now the following Republican Commissioners having served two consecutive terms as Commissioner and have a responsibility to cast a vote for a Republican as Chairman.
Commissioner Ivan Harmon
Commissioner Craig Leuthold
Commissioner Mike Hammond
Commissioner Paul Pinkston
The following Republican Commissioners are expected to run for Commission next year and have a responsibility to cast a vote for a Republican as Chairman.
Commissioner Tony Norman
Commissioner Dave Wright
Commissioner Mike Brown
That is 14 votes for a Republican Commission Chairman. Our view is that the consensus candidate for Commission Chairman is Commissioner Craig Leuthold.
If these 14 individuals are going to rely on the Republican Party during the election period then they should support the party in selecting the Commission Chairman. If they do not support a Republican for Commission Chairman then they should resign immediately from Commission and then run for election to Commission as a Democrat or as an Independent.
Should any Republican Commissioner NOT support a Republican then they SHOULD NOT be surprised at the next election cycle that the party runs someone else against them and at the NEXT Countywide Republican gathering that a resolution is passed to give any non compliant Republican Commissioner the BOOT.
The 5 Democrats that are left to vote for a Democrat Commission Chairman are. Commissioner Thomas “Tank” Strickland, Commissioner Sam McKenzie, Commissioner Mark Harmon, Commissioner Amy Broyles and Commissioner Finbarr Saunders.
