Knox County Republicans look to return to 'normalcy' under new (old) leader

Knox County Republicans on Feb. 18 opted for change away from controversy when they elected Buddy Burkhardt to serve again as chair. He defeated former city police officer Keith Lyon, 227 to 187.

Lyon had the backing of political consultant Erik Wiatr, who has become toxic for many GOP officeholders. Burkhardt said a “a return to normalcy is my goal.”

Outgoing chair Dan Herrera gave a farewell speech extolling the growth of his law firm, leaving many attendees wondering where his primary interest was placed. He said he is opening an office in Chattanooga.

Herrera had paid a Lincoln Day speaker $20,000 when it could have gone to local candidates. He backed a slate of GOP candidates for City Council who all lost. He made the school board elections partisan, which cost the GOP a seat.

He hosted U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado to be the most recent Lincoln Day speaker, which alienated mainstream Republicans. She barely won reelection in 2022 by 500 votes out of 308,000 cast in a district ex-president Donald Trump won by more than 10 points in 2020.

Burkhardt’s win was assisted by full-time elected Republican officeholders deciding enough was enough and actively pushing him over Lyon. State Sen. Becky Massey especially was effective for Burkhardt. He entered the race only two weeks before the election.

Allied with Burkhardt was Janis Crye, who was elected vice chair. West Knox GOP club chair Gary Loe lost by more than 50 votes to Jeremy Coffey to be secretary.

Lyon said he was “taking time to evaluate what happens next.” He called Wiatr a “friend, and I am loyal to my friends.” He declined to say whether he will run for city mayor this year. He has named a treasurer.

Newest deputy chief gets highest pay

Brooklyn Sawyers Belk, 42, has been named Knoxville police deputy director of professional standards, a new position. She will make $162,000 a year.

A former federal prosecutor, she was an adjunct law professor. She earned $15,000 for the past fall semester and current semester.

The new position is one Chief Paul Noel planned to add since he took on the chief's job eight months ago. The new role requires the person to be an attorney.

There are now four deputy police chiefs. Belk is the highest paid. Mark Fortner, assistant chief, makes $158,275. Noel earns $185,000.

There will be conversation within the department about why three deputy chiefs who have each been at KPD for over 20 years are paid $119,576 while the newest hire is paid $162,000. They are Tony Willis, Susan Coker and David Powell. Belk is also assigned a Dodge Durango, which all KPD captains and deputy chiefs have.

Belk has been a registered voter in Knox County since 2015 and votes in the Hardin Valley area so she cannot vote in city elections. She also has a consistent record of voting only in Republican primaries in Knox County.

She now holds a significant position, and all should wish her every success in meeting the challenges she faces. There was not a search to fill her position as occurred with Noel.

Though hiring Belk is a step forward in diversifying the command structure, Noel still faces the acute and serious issue of having few Black police officers in command positions. This is a weakness in KPD that he inherited.

Former U.S. ambassador to Australia A. B. Culvahouse of Tennessee will speak at the Baker Center at 5:30 p.m. March 6 as part of the Ashe Lecture Series on issues facing the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region. The public is invited.

Birthdays

March 3: Dr. Bradley Pearman is 64. State Sen. Frank Niceley is 76. Former Knox GOP chair Randy Pace is 61. Mike Connor is 72. Grant K. Barton is 51.

March 4: Former Knox Commission chair Tank Strickland is 70. Sandra Korbelik is 72. Donald Bridges is 48. Retired UT professor John Scheb is 68. Ray Hand is 80. Drew Hamilton is 39. Megan Stair is 48.

March 5: Former city councilwoman Marilyn Roddy is 61. Jennifer Owen is 56.

March 6: Former state senator Jamie Woodson is 51. City Law Director Charles Swanson is 69. Knox County attorney Amanda Morse is 39.

March 7: Katherine Cameron is 48. Joe Kirk is 83. Jimmy Johnson is 52. Former county commissioner Frank Leuthold is 86. Architect Charles Smith is 78. Artist Marcia Goldenstein is 75. Julia Huster is 75. David McGinley is 53. David Manderscheid is 68.

March 8: Former state Attorney General Herb Slatery is 71. Conservative political consultant Erik Wiatr is 42.

March 9: Former county commissioner Diane Jordan, CPA Van Elkins, and retired Judge Joe Tipton are 76. Greg Mills is 45. Jimmy Haslam III is 69. Former U.S. senator Jim Buckley of New York is 100 and is the oldest living ex-senator. Sunisa Lee is 20. Anne Colquitt is 36. Michael Kenik is 41. Stacey Rivers is 58. Harold Knott is 77.

Victor Ashe can be reached at vhashe@aol.com.

Knox News and Shopper News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email accuracy@knoxnews.com. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Republicans look to return to 'normalcy'