Incumbent County Commissioner Jo Skidmore, who this year filed to run for office as a Republican for the first time in her long political career, has been denied the right to run as a Republican by the state GOP.
Her status as a Republican was apparently challenged, and the state party committee agreed that she lacked the credentials to be considered a Republican in good standing.
Jim Hawkins was also denied ballot access in his bid to run as a Republican candidate for Chancellor. Hawkins previously ran for state Senate against Diane Black in 2008 as a Democrat.
The Hendersonville Standard has the full story.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
2014 County Commission Candidates-UPDATED
Noon today (February 20th) was the filing deadline for candidates for Sumner County Commission.
Here's a list of candidates who had filed by that deadline.
Today was the deadline to withdraw your name. Also, Jo Skidmore was not allowed to run as a Republican because her Republican credentials were challenged and the state party agreed with the challenge.
Paul Freels (Incumbent) withdrew today as did Shawn Fennell.
This is THE list of candidates running in 2014 for County Commission
italics denotes incumbent
First District:
...
Here's a list of candidates who had filed by that deadline.
Today was the deadline to withdraw your name. Also, Jo Skidmore was not allowed to run as a Republican because her Republican credentials were challenged and the state party agreed with the challenge.
Paul Freels (Incumbent) withdrew today as did Shawn Fennell.
This is THE list of candidates running in 2014 for County Commission
italics denotes incumbent
First District:
...
Mike Akins (R)
Moe Taylor (R)
Second District:
Billy Geminden (R)
Larry Hinton (R)
Michael Meadows (I)
Third District:
Steve Graves (I)
David Satterfield (I)
Alan Driver (R)
Richie Harville (R)
Fourth District:
Frank E. Freels (R)
Roger Angell (R)
Leslie Schell (R)
Jerry Foster (R)
Fifth District:
Ben Harris (I)
Baker Ring (R)
Sixth District:
Jim Vaughn (R)
Yvonne Malone (D)
Kevin Pomeroy (R)
HD Wheeler (R)
Seventh District:
Trisha LeMarbre (R)
Kirk Moser (R)
Joanne Kemp (R)
Eighth District:
Paul Decker (I)
Merrol Hyde (R)
Ninth District:(no incumbents running)
Jerry Becker (R)
Chris Taylor (R)
Mark Nodini (R)
Benjamin McCroskey (I)
Michael Conner (R)
Andy Griffin (R)
Tenth District:
Paul Goode (R)
Caroline Krueger (R)
Eleventh District:
Jerry Stone (R)
F. William "Bill" Taylor (R)
Scott Langford (R)
Twelfth District:
Bob Pospisil (R)
Michael Guthrie (R)
Moe Taylor (R)
Second District:
Billy Geminden (R)
Larry Hinton (R)
Michael Meadows (I)
Third District:
Steve Graves (I)
David Satterfield (I)
Alan Driver (R)
Richie Harville (R)
Fourth District:
Frank E. Freels (R)
Roger Angell (R)
Leslie Schell (R)
Jerry Foster (R)
Fifth District:
Ben Harris (I)
Baker Ring (R)
Sixth District:
Jim Vaughn (R)
Yvonne Malone (D)
Kevin Pomeroy (R)
HD Wheeler (R)
Seventh District:
Trisha LeMarbre (R)
Kirk Moser (R)
Joanne Kemp (R)
Eighth District:
Paul Decker (I)
Merrol Hyde (R)
Ninth District:(no incumbents running)
Jerry Becker (R)
Chris Taylor (R)
Mark Nodini (R)
Benjamin McCroskey (I)
Michael Conner (R)
Andy Griffin (R)
Tenth District:
Paul Goode (R)
Caroline Krueger (R)
Eleventh District:
Jerry Stone (R)
F. William "Bill" Taylor (R)
Scott Langford (R)
Twelfth District:
Bob Pospisil (R)
Michael Guthrie (R)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Stonewalled!
It seems incumbent County Commissioner Jerry Stone is not please with dialogue about how best to improve schools. Here's his recent Facebook status:
I have removed and blocked several posts from SS members. They are not interested in facts. They have an agenda and they stick to it. They blocked me from their site several months ago, I will unblock them when they unblock me.
The claim Stone makes about being blocked is false, by the way. The group posted a list of currently blocked individuals, containing 7 people. Jerry Stone is not on that list and leaders of the organization insist he's never been blocked.
This issue apparently arose because after Stone posted false claims about parent-led advocacy group Strong Schools on his page, several members of that organization took the time to respond. When presented with facts about the schools and with pleas from members of Strong Schools to stop making gross generalizations, Stone's son, Nathan, began responding and was joined by SURG supporters Donna DeSopo and Kurt Riley.
Commissioner Stone's only response has been to post that he's blocking those who disagree with him or who attempt to engage him in dialogue about schools.
SURG claims that Stone is the only current County Commissioner who is a member of their organization. And their leadership is standing behind Stone in the 2014 elections.
This is the same Jerry Stone who opposed a proposal to use funds from the Sumner County's nearly $30 million in reserves to help bridge the gap in the 2012 school system proposed budget. This would have prevented a tax increase and allowed time for discussion of alternatives.
Just a few months later, though, Stone supported using reserve funds to bailout the County's mismanaged insurance trust.
More recently, Stone has come out in favor of a property tax increase to support the addition of a new judge in Sumner County. Why does he support this tax? Because the position is needed due to growth. No word on whether SURG leaders are taking Stone to task because of his support for higher taxes.
It's early in election season, but Jerry Stone's Facebook page is certainly proving to be interesting reading. That is, if you enjoy reading Jerry's complaints about how his constituents want to engage in dialogue but all he wants to see is people who agree with his point of view.
The claim Stone makes about being blocked is false, by the way. The group posted a list of currently blocked individuals, containing 7 people. Jerry Stone is not on that list and leaders of the organization insist he's never been blocked.
This issue apparently arose because after Stone posted false claims about parent-led advocacy group Strong Schools on his page, several members of that organization took the time to respond. When presented with facts about the schools and with pleas from members of Strong Schools to stop making gross generalizations, Stone's son, Nathan, began responding and was joined by SURG supporters Donna DeSopo and Kurt Riley.
Commissioner Stone's only response has been to post that he's blocking those who disagree with him or who attempt to engage him in dialogue about schools.
SURG claims that Stone is the only current County Commissioner who is a member of their organization. And their leadership is standing behind Stone in the 2014 elections.
This is the same Jerry Stone who opposed a proposal to use funds from the Sumner County's nearly $30 million in reserves to help bridge the gap in the 2012 school system proposed budget. This would have prevented a tax increase and allowed time for discussion of alternatives.
Just a few months later, though, Stone supported using reserve funds to bailout the County's mismanaged insurance trust.
More recently, Stone has come out in favor of a property tax increase to support the addition of a new judge in Sumner County. Why does he support this tax? Because the position is needed due to growth. No word on whether SURG leaders are taking Stone to task because of his support for higher taxes.
It's early in election season, but Jerry Stone's Facebook page is certainly proving to be interesting reading. That is, if you enjoy reading Jerry's complaints about how his constituents want to engage in dialogue but all he wants to see is people who agree with his point of view.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
DeSopo Attacks Local Elected Officials, Hides from Questions
Hendersonville resident Donna DeSopo, a frequent critic of city officials in Hendersonville, has come under fire for her aggressive, personal attacks on two local elected officials.
The Hendersonville Standard carried a story this week on DeSopo's tactics and her refusal to return calls for comment.
In one incident, DeSopo took to an area news blog and then Facebook to attack Goodlettsville City Commissioner Zach Young, accusing him of being jobless, living in his parents' basement, and relying on them for health care and food.
DeSopo has not responded to the fact that Young is employed full-time at a local property management company and is also a full-time college student. Young notes that he lives at with his mother to care for her as she has a terminal illness.
No word from DeSopo in terms of an apology for her outlandish attack.
Young says he's fine with political disagreements, but doesn't understand why DeSopo made it personal. Worse, she simply lied. Every one of her accusations about Young's personal life are false.
In another incident cited by the Standard, DeSopo refers to Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse as a piece of excrement who should be thrown out.
The paper goes on to editorialize that DeSopo's conduct has no place in a civil discussion regarding political disagreements.
Sprouse says DeSopo's words don't concern him, but he'd like for her to produce tangible evidence to support her claims.
It's not clear whether or when she plans to apologize for insulting Sprouse or lying about Young's family life.
Perhaps DeSopo will continue her approach of boldly attacking with lies and vile language, then hiding when confronted. Perhaps being exposed for such tactics will cause her to re-think her approach. Time will tell.
The Hendersonville Standard carried a story this week on DeSopo's tactics and her refusal to return calls for comment.
In one incident, DeSopo took to an area news blog and then Facebook to attack Goodlettsville City Commissioner Zach Young, accusing him of being jobless, living in his parents' basement, and relying on them for health care and food.
DeSopo has not responded to the fact that Young is employed full-time at a local property management company and is also a full-time college student. Young notes that he lives at with his mother to care for her as she has a terminal illness.
No word from DeSopo in terms of an apology for her outlandish attack.
Young says he's fine with political disagreements, but doesn't understand why DeSopo made it personal. Worse, she simply lied. Every one of her accusations about Young's personal life are false.
In another incident cited by the Standard, DeSopo refers to Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse as a piece of excrement who should be thrown out.
The paper goes on to editorialize that DeSopo's conduct has no place in a civil discussion regarding political disagreements.
Sprouse says DeSopo's words don't concern him, but he'd like for her to produce tangible evidence to support her claims.
It's not clear whether or when she plans to apologize for insulting Sprouse or lying about Young's family life.
Perhaps DeSopo will continue her approach of boldly attacking with lies and vile language, then hiding when confronted. Perhaps being exposed for such tactics will cause her to re-think her approach. Time will tell.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
What ARE they looking for?
A group of citizens digging into the City of Hendersonville's records has failed to turn up any significant wrong-doing by city officials over the last 8 years.
According to the Hendersonville Standard, records requests by the group, led by local muckraker Donna DeSopo, have created a backlog at City Hall and yet no criminal charges or significant improprieties have been discovered or reported.
Aldermen Don Ames and Jim Waters were interviewed for the story and both said that while they support the public's access to records, the group digging has not presented anything extraordinary. Both expressed a desire for the group to present clear information about wrongdoing, if any has been discovered.
More on this story here.
According to the Hendersonville Standard, records requests by the group, led by local muckraker Donna DeSopo, have created a backlog at City Hall and yet no criminal charges or significant improprieties have been discovered or reported.
Aldermen Don Ames and Jim Waters were interviewed for the story and both said that while they support the public's access to records, the group digging has not presented anything extraordinary. Both expressed a desire for the group to present clear information about wrongdoing, if any has been discovered.
More on this story here.
Assistant Director of Advising and Testing
Volunteer State Community College is hiring an Assistant Director of Advising and Testing.
Details here.
If you have a Hendersonville-area job you'd like posted, email us at newshendersonville@gmail.com
Details here.
If you have a Hendersonville-area job you'd like posted, email us at newshendersonville@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Strong Schools vs. Portables
Parent-led advocacy group Strong Schools sent an email today decrying the over-reliance on Portable "classrooms" by Sumner County Schools.
The group noted that the system has 77 portables serving an estimated 3000 or so children each day.
During the recent cold temperatures, the group said, the system's use of portables meant kids in class in very cold conditions.
The organization suggested a lack of planning was the cause and that persistent under-funding of schools over the years is finally taking its toll.
The group is calling on the School Board to present and the County Commission to fund a budget that addresses growth and meets the needs of students.
The group noted that the system has 77 portables serving an estimated 3000 or so children each day.
During the recent cold temperatures, the group said, the system's use of portables meant kids in class in very cold conditions.
The organization suggested a lack of planning was the cause and that persistent under-funding of schools over the years is finally taking its toll.
The group is calling on the School Board to present and the County Commission to fund a budget that addresses growth and meets the needs of students.
JOB: Director of Distance Learning at Vol State
A very local job is open for the right candidate at Vol State Community College.
Director of Distance Learning
Details here.
Director of Distance Learning
Details here.
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