Hmm… A few days ago I noticed that the Knoxville News Sentinel had started including Oak Ridge obituaries under “Knox County” (not every day, but intermittently). Now I see that the News Sentinel delivered to our house today includes a “West Knox” section. Does the Knoxville newspaper want to annex Oak Ridge into Knox County?!?
(Truly, I assume this is just “stuff that happens” when a business is short-staffed around the holiday season, but the coincidence is interesting…)
It’s been politely pointed out to me that I let the blog slide… To be candid, I wasn’t completely sure if anyone was reading. Now I’ve been told otherwise… One person wrote to me: “I have missed your blog over the last few months. Reading your comments on the issues that Oak Ridge faces helped bring your perspective on your voting record, as well as giving an alternate viewpoint on pending change. Just reading about a yes or no vote does not give as much satisfaction as reading your rationale behind it.”
That gentle poke has helped convince me to get back to blogging. Hello, again. 
Ironically, my hiatus was largely due to the large number of topics that I needed or wanted to post about. (Which one should I write about first? Will my choice of topics be misinterpreted as an indication of my priorities? If I delay commenting on something, when is it “too late” to weigh in?). Also, it was partly due to other time commitments. Further, it was partly due to a period of being out of town — not only did I have limited internet access, but I was wanting to post about my travels, while not wanting my blog to post an invitation to burglars, telling them “there’s nobody home at our house!” 
Also, being a for-real city official does make me a little bit more circumspect than I might have been previously (I don’t want to create unnecessary enmity with people I need to work with).
The longer I waited, the harder it got to restart.
I’ve started posting again, not necessarily with the most urgent topics, but with material that was already half-written. If I slack off again, please poke me.
I’ve gotten word that the fireworks show planned for tomorrow evening (the 4th of July) has been canceled due to unforeseen problems. Added: See WBIR-TV for details.
The City of Oak Ridge has procured the fireworks, so the show will go on some time later this year.
Oak Ridge’s greenways network benefits from a small, but incredibly dedicated, group of volunteers. One of these is Tom Dunigan, who has unveiled a spiffy Google Maps-based interactive online guide to the Oak Ridge Greenways trails. (Check out the map! Click on a red pin to open a popup window with a link to a trail description, detailed map, or other information.)
I’m looking forward to seeing more pins appear on that map when the final phase of the Melton Lake Greenway opens up, linking the Melton Lake Park lakefront with the Haw Ridge Park mountain bike trail system. A few months ago I walked the trail route with city staff and Greenways Oak Ridge volunteers — the walk under the Edgemoor bridge and through the Haw Ridge area probably will become the best part of the Melton Lake greenway.
The votes are in (full returns are on the Election Commission website) and I’m elected to City Council. The news media have, of course, reported the story (see The Oak Ridger and the News Sentinel) and I’m tickled to see that some fellow bloggers have offered their enthusiastic congratulations (see The Crone Speaks), positive thoughts on my election and their hopes for the future (see Atomictumor), or at least best wishes on the difficult job ahead (see Manland). Citizens Oak Ridge, Democracy for East Tennessee, and even the statewide Democracy for Tennessee also have reported enthusiastically on the election results. Unfortunately, my digestive tract started acting up the morning after the election and was “not right” for much of the time since, so I spent some time and energy on feeling sick that I otherwise might have spent posting here.
The three new City Council members (Tom Hayes, Charlie Hensley, and myself) will be sworn in Tuesday afternoon at 4 pm, so until then I guess we’re still civilians.
There’s still time, then, for some reflections on the election before buckling down to the challenges of the new job…
There’s no denying that it’s exciting to have won the election, and also to have prevailed in the referendum on Crestpointe, but easily the best part of this election campaign was the people. It’s humbling to reflect on the idea that 3,177 people voted for me (I must not forget that this was just 49.5% — less than half — of the 6,414 Oak Ridgers who voted in this election), but even more humbling to remember that many of those people helped with the campaign — by donating money, hosting “meet the candidate(s)” events, telling their friends about me, mailing postcards, walking door to door, processing voter data, phoning voters to help “get out the vote,” displaying yard signs (or vehicle signs or bumperstickers), talking with voters at precincts on election day, or helping with the campaign open house or election night party. “Grassroots” politics is about meeting individual people and connecting with them one-on-one. I’ve met some fascinating people here in Oak Ridge and made some new friends whom I hope to keep as friends for a lifetime (meaning I had better work hard to do the right thing as a Council member!). It was very special to be able to celebrate “victory” on election night with so many of the people whose hard work helped elect me and helped the “no” side prevail in the referendum. It feels good to know that we all played a part in lifting city election turnout to well above 30%. Now we will need to work together as a community (including City Council, other public officials, and concerned citizens of every viewpoint) to find and implement solutions to city problems that will get broad public support. (It’s not going to be easy.)
Some of the most important people associated with this election were the other candidates. (We spent a lot of time together over the 6 weeks leading up to election day….) I’m looking forward to becoming better acquainted with Tom Hayes (whose #1 tally of 3,644 votes — 56.8% of the voters — provides testimony to the respect he has earned in 41 years as a teacher, coach, and principal) and Charlie Hensley (with whom I know I share many values and priorities, although we disagreed on some key issues in this election campaign).
It’s probably unfortunate for the city that only 3 could be elected, because there was a lot more talent in the candidate pool. The 4th-place finisher, the gentlemanly Ray Evans, always impresses me with his intelligence and insight, which he displayed throughout this election season. I know we’ll continue to see those qualities expressed in his participation in local civic affairs and real estate development projects. It’s remarkable that Fred Childress (who had lived in Oak Ridge less than a year) ended up just 93 votes behind Ray (a long-time resident and former City Council member) in the vote tally. Like me, Fred picked up some votes from people who were mainly interested in expressing their opposition to public funding for Crestpointe. However, it’s clear from the results that this was not solely a single-issue election, and I believe that Fred’s showing demonstrates that he had made a powerful positive impression on many of us with his knowledge of economic and policy issues and his forthright commitment to “transparency” and “reason.” I hope that both the City and I will continue our new acquaintance with Fred, to everyone’s benefit. I believe that Jerry Marrow, who did not campaign vigorously (he did not even have yard signs), contributed importantly to the outcome of the election by being on the ballot and helping to give “no Crestpointe” single-issue voters an opportunity to support a full slate of three candidates for Council (he won support from more than one out of six voters). In public forums I enjoyed hearing Jerry make effective use of metaphors and imagery to illustrate his points, particularly about the need for action to bring in more basic industrial jobs. I expect we will see more of him as a public speaker and civic volunteer — and if he decides to run again, I predict that he will use yard signs. I was surprised by the low vote total for Ella Hawkins DuBose. I guess that because she remained neutral on Crestpointe until the final days of the election process, she failed to get votes from single-issue voters on either side of the issue. However, her care for both people and community, together with her awareness of public issues and solutions nationally and around the country, showed through in public forums and conversations. I know she has a powerful combination of talents to share with us all, now and in the future.
I’ve noticed this out of the corner of my eye on several recent occasions, but I finally focused long enough to be sure that I was seeing this correctly:
Westbound travelers on Hwy 95, approaching the interchange with Hwy 58 (where a right turn on 95 takes you to Lenoir City, while straight traffic takes 58 toward K-25 and Kingston) are greeted by a big silver sign (erected by CROET; similar to other signs around the ETTP) that indicates that the Horizon Center, Museum of Science and Energy, and Business District are all straight ahead.
Motorists who trust this sign will find themselves seriously misdirected, since a U-turn is the only reasonable way to get to any of those sites from that location. (The sign also directs people to turn right to get to ORNL; at least that part is correct.)
My guess is that this sign was intended for eastbound traffic approaching the same interchange, and that the sign intended for westbound travelers at this interchange is now greeting eastbound traffic with similar misinformation. (I certainly hope this was not a deliberate effort by the sign installers to discourage people from shopping in Oak Ridge, sending them to the Kingston business district instead. 
)
Political yard signs are all over town. Some of them have my name on them — they are a necessary part of political campaigning.
Some people like yard signs — they take pride in displaying signs that tell the world who they support, and they want to see their candidates’ names all over town. Many other people think they are ugly clutter. There are a few spots around town where there are so many signs (many for the same candidate or cause) that I expect everyone thinks they are ugly clutter.
The city has an ordinance restricting the display of political signs. Its main effect is to keep signs out of places where they are most likely to distract drivers. (Signs can’t be placed on medians, traffic islands, or within 15 ft of the shoulder on our major streets. City staff say they “harvested” 75 illegal signs from along highways a few days ago — I was pleased to hear that none of those signs had my name on them.)
The ordinance also says campaign signs can’t be displayed until 30 days before the election, which this year is being interpreted to mean 30 days before early voting starts.
Signs in yards are supposed to indicate that the residents support the candidate or cause whose sign they display, but a dirty little secret is that many signs are placed in front of vacant houses and other places where it is highly unlikely that they represent an actual resident’s actual opinion. This year, this is particularly true of “FOR” signs.
Until the last few days, I asked my supporters to place my signs only on private property controlled by someone who supports me (ADDED: or gave permission to place the sign), but now that the election is getting closer we are putting signs out on public rights of way and similar places. My apologies to those of you who consider these to be ugly clutter, but in order to get elected I need to put my name out where people can see it.
Some of the apparently public places where folks see many campaign signs (and where people urge me to place signs) are private property, often controlled by real estate developers who are engaging in political speech by allowing display of signs for candidates they approve of. Thus, for example, all those signs at the triangular intersection of Lafayette and Illinois, across Emory Valley Rd. from the Food Lion, and at various locations on the east Oak Ridge Turnpike reflect the views of R&R Properties and/or the Chinn family.
PS - If you want one of my signs for your yard (I admit that as lawn ornaments go, they are pretty tacky, but I’ve seen worse), please send me an e-mail or phone me (I’m in the book).
I had a great time at my campaign open house — connecting with some old friends and meeting new folks.
We displayed a couple of posters on which people entered their answers to a question worded something like “IF the city had $10.5 million to spare, how should it be spent?” The responses were diverse, but no one suggested the Crestpointe project.
A few might cost more than $10.5 million, but several listed priorities would use only a tiny fraction of that amount ($10.5 million is a lot of money!):
RETAIL & BUSINESS PROPOSALS
* Sign for Jackson Square with a list of the businesses there
* New attractive light for Jackson Square (”pay attention to this great place!”)
* Grove Center needs generic sign showing businesses
* Subsidize new local businesses in existing retail space (that got one comment of “Amen”)
* Do what’s necessary to revitalize the Mall!
* Initiate and maintain a program to encourage and expand new small businesses
EDUCATION AND ARTS
* Education! and the arts (that got one comment of “I second that”)
* Fund school budget - keep schools strong - good music program - do not go backwards
* Full funding of school system - all those unfunded mandates!
SENIOR CENTER, ETC.
* Build a new senior center and preschool
* Build or acquire senior/community center SOON (that got comments of “I second that!!!” and “I third this motion”)
OTHER LOCAL PROJECTS
* Bike lanes on all thoroughfares
* Invest in the preservation of the north tower of K-25 to jump start massive heritage tourism in the city
* Make Oak Ridge a leader in fighting global warming
* Make Oak Ridge a leader in energy-efficient homes and businesses
* Be part of a regional passenger rail system (that got a comment of “I second that”)
* Condos on ridge top (not Target), rent to city government operations as income
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROPOSALS
* More video surveillance cameras throughout the city
* More police officers
FINANCIAL PROPOSALS
* Pay down debt, borrow no more
* 5 kegs on the 18th hole and put the rest in the bank, hedge funds, and my business in order to get 6% to 8% return for schools
Oak Ridgers who want to “study up” in preparation for the upcoming June 5 election have several opportunities to do so.
Several candidates and the pro-Crestpointe group “Future of Oak Ridge” have already held campaign kick-offs or rallies, and the local AARP held a candidates forum last week. Upcoming opportunities include:
Tuesday, April 24 (that’s today) - Citizens Oak Ridge organizing meeting for the Crestpointe bond referendum, 6:30-8:30 pm, Oak Ridge Civic Center Craft Room
Friday, April 27 - Open House for Ellen Smith for City Council, 6-8 pm, Midtown Community Center (corner of Oak Ridge Tpke and Robertsville Rd). Please attend to meet me, talk about issues, and enjoy the hammered dulcimer music of Oak Ridge’s own Allen McBride. Please attend!
Tuesday, May 1 - League of Women Voters candidate forum, 6:30-9:30 pm, City Room (A-111), Roane State Community College Oak Ridge campus.
Thursday, May 3 - City Council candidate forum sponsored by Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning , 6:30-8:30 pm, Midtown Community Center
Tuesday, May 15 - League of Women Voters forum on Crestpointe bond referendum, Pollard Auditorium (on ORAU campus)
Now for something completely different…
A “Thinking Blogger Award” designation (image at the right) has been spreading around the “blogosphere.” Blogger CE Petro at Thoughts of An Average Woman (a strong lady who sells herself short when she calls herself “average”) included me on her list of 5 “thinking bloggers.”
In order to mention this award here I am supposed to identify 5 more bloggers whose work I find to be thoughtful or thought-provoking. I’m not a blog addict, so I don’t carry a list of these in my back pocket, but I do visit a variety of blogs and blog-like sites from time to time that provide insightful analysis and/or thought-provoking and informative content. Not including CE Petro’s exemplary blog and omitting sites like Tennessee Politics Blog that are great news sources but light on thought-provoking analysis, here are five that I find interesting and relevant to the local community focus of this blog:
Citizen Netmom - Oak Ridge school board member Angi Agle has provided some impressive analysis and explanation on topics related to local schools and school funding, along with interesting perspectives on many other topics. She and I don’t always agree, but this entire list is about thinking, not conformity.
KnoxViews - East Tennessee is full of opinions, many of which can be found here.
Cyburbia - Not technically a blog, but a diverse and continually-updated source of interesting links and commentary about community planning and development.
Smart Growth America - A blog-like resource on “historic preservation, the environment, farmland and open space preservation, neighborhood revitalization and more.”
Appalachistan - Often-original thinking about life and local issues on the other side of the Knox County line.
