Yesterday the Knoxville News Sentinel published a second story about the 7 County Commissioners that committed a Sunshine Law violation. For a second time it is reported that Commission Chairman Dave Wright did not return the Sentinel’a phone call seeking a comment. Is Wright’s hiding from reporters an admission of guilt? He is always clamming for media attention to break ground, break wind or cut a ribbon.

Additionally, Law Director Bud Armstrong had political double speak in the same article, If the Commissioners had only authored a letter and sent it to the legislators it would NOT be a violation. However, at the next official meeting less than 15 days the Commission debated and voted on the subject in the letter. The Commission used the letter as an instrument to deliberate to a conclusion, which is a violation of the Sunshine Law. Additionally the letter by an elected official on government letterhead as a form of communication is an official document.

The 2007 litigation that found the Commission in violation of the Sunshine Law was brought by the Editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel. I believe lawyers and citizens have been and are engaged in conversations about a filing requesting the courts review of the court’s order that was entered on the Commission and any future Commission to NOT violate the Sunshine law and the 7 Commissioners letter and subsequent action at their March 2016 meeting.