Political happenings this week in Knoxville | Victor Ashe
The annual forum with Knox County lawmakers – sponsored by Knox News, Society of Professional Journalists, and the League of Women Voters – has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Phyllis Wheatley Center, 124 S. Cruze Street. It will last about an hour.
Businessman Shane Jackson kicks off his campaign for County Commission on Feb. 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Holly’s Gourmet Market. Attorney Cliff Rodgers is his treasurer. He is unopposed in the March 5 Democratic primary and will face either Garrett Holt or Elizabeth Tombras out of the GOP primary. Tombras says she is the more conservative candidate.
Brian Broyles, the new senior vice chancellor for advancement at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, will make $415,000 a year. He previously earned $340,000 as associate vice chancellor for advancement. A university news release noted his “consistent success” in a career that started in annual giving.
Jeff Smith will make $130,000 a year as the UT System’s vice president for national labs, pending board of trustees approval March 1. He will be the primary liaison to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory leadership team. Smith previously served on the TVA board and the Knoxville Airport Authority.
Becky Wade has been appointed by Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon to the board of Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation to replace Robyn McAdoo, whose term had expired. Wade is a former employee of KCDC and very knowledgeable about issues facing KCDC at this critical time in its history.
Gov. Bill Lee has reappointed Madge Cleveland of Knoxville to the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, subject to legislative confirmation. Cleveland was first appointed by former Gov. Bill Haslam.
Birthdays
Feb. 1: Lyn Overholt is 87. Bill Mason is 75. Reid Lederer is 55. Bo Shafer is 87. Brian K. Dickens is 54.
Feb. 2: Vice Mayor Tommy Smith is 43. Allison Lederer is 47. County Commissioner Dasha Lundy is 44. Anthony Anderson is 35. Knox Heritage’s Christine Cloninger is 44.
Feb. 3: Attorney Robyn Askew is 68. Businessman Wes Stowers is 70. Brian Carniello is 53. John Heins is 58. Catherine E. Shuck is 57. Chris O’Rourke is 67. Breyauna Holloway is 39.
Feb. 4: Christopher Bishop is 66. Nicholas Bridgeman is 45. Paul James is 54. Former Vice President Dan Quayle is 77. Mark Moreland is 70. Joe Little is 84. Cayce Petko is 46. State Rep. Michele Carringer is 62. Andrea K. Adams is 52. Shawn Mauer is 42. Scott L. Daniel is 47.
Feb. 5: Rachel Craig is 72. Legendary UT women’s athletics director Joan Cronan is 80. Dr. Bill Laing is 92. The Rev. Renee Kesler is 55. Marcos Garza is 50. Former County Commissioner Phil Guthe is 70. Former state rep and potential congressional candidate Jimmy Matlock is 65. Donna Mingie is 65.
Feb. 6: Heather Hensley is 40. Jerry Atchley is 70. Rick Fox is 72. Wesley Payne is 65.
Feb. 7: Jack Kirkland is 89. Attorney Doug Dutton is 83. Justin R. Krey is 38. John R. Sergent is 44. Blake Valentine is 47. Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is 55.
Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Political happenings this week in Knoxville | Victor Ashe
