Posted on 05/12/2006 10:30:29 AM PDT by SmithL
The Knox County Election Commission certified the results of last week’s primary elections today.
Chairwoman Pam Reeves emphasized that the move only confirms the votes cast, but it is not a decision on whether the nine term-limited county commissioners who won their parties’ nominations are qualified to run in the Aug. 3 general election.
"At this point we are just doing what we are instructed to do by state law," Reeves said.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of five of the commissioners argues that the county charter, and its term limits provision, is invalid. Though no hearing has been scheduled in the case yet, its outcome is expected to decide which candidates the election commission may include on the August ballot.
"With all the lawsuits pending," said Reeves, "I don’t think anything is automatic."
Meanwhile, at the other end of Tennessee, two Shelby County (Memphis) Commissioners that ran for re-election in defiance of a similar term limit, approved years ago by 85% in a referendum, were soundly defeated, after the TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT ruled that the term limits law was constitutional and their candidacies were invalid. They had continued to campaign, hoping to gain "influence" in naming their successors to office.
I am sure that some lawyers are looking at this new situation with $$$ in their thoughts.
It's not clear in this story, but the Knox County commissioners are claiming that based on some technicality, Knox County isn't a "true" Charter County, therefore, the Supreme Court ruling doesn't really apply to them.
If the incumbents are bounced from the ballot before the General Elections, the parties have announced plans to hold nominating conventions to select new candidates.
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