Duncan’s new job has town talking

Sandra ClarkGossip and Lies

See edit below:

A candidate for Knox County mayor has launched a real estate company and hired as an affiliate broker a young man with limited experience but a dynamite political lineage.

The company: EXIT Glenn Jacobs Realty, 6216 Lonas Drive.

The affiliate broker: John Duncan III, son of U.S. Rep. John “Jimmy” Duncan Jr.

Duncan III wrote, “Ever since college, whether it was through banking, consulting or government, I’ve been involved in various aspects of real estate. … During my time in real estate, I’ve worked as hard as I can to be a different kind of agent, who operates with professionalism and sincerely puts my clients’ goals ahead of my own.

“I’m now working with Doyle (Webb), Glenn Jacobs and Crystal Maurisa Jacobs at the brand new EXIT Realty office in West Knoxville. I believe the firm will quickly become one of the fastest growing in this area,” Duncan posted on Facebook on May 25.

We asked Duncan, now 36, two questions:

  1. Does this mean you have quit your job with Jimmy’s campaign?
  2. Does it mean you are supporting Jacobs for county mayor?

We will post a response if received.

Records with the Federal Election Commission (www.fec.gov) show payments from the Duncan for Congress Committee of $3,000 to $3,500 every other week Nov. 1, 2013, through March 20, 2017, (end of reporting period) to American Public Strategies. The registered address: 8621 Nubbin Ridge Road. The property owner: John J. Duncan.

Knox County records do not indicate whether the property owner is Duncan Jr. or Duncan III, but the younger Duncan lives there and it’s clear he has been working for his dad’s campaign committee since shortly after he resigned as Knox County trustee after pleading guilty to a felony charge of official misconduct.

Duncan was elected trustee at age 30. Three years later, he and others resigned after a TBI investigation revealed each had accepted payments for professional development courses and online tests they had not taken. Duncan’s plea was entered July 2, 2013. After a year’s probation, his record was expunged in August 2014.

Let’s look at the politics of the Duncan/Jacobs relationship.

** The new job for Duncan III signals Duncan Jr. may not seek reelection to his 15th term in Congress in 2018.

** Jacobs, a professional wrestler with limited political or community involvement, can benefit from ties to the 50-year electoral history of the Duncan Dynasty. Can’t recall a Duncan ever losing an election. Ever.

** Duncan III may see a job with “Mayor Jacobs” in his future – a way to get back into politics, the family business.

Perhaps a bigger question is whether Duncan III can deliver the Duncan machine to the Jacobs campaign. Can he bring state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey? The siblings, the cousins? What about retired Appeals Court Judge Joe Duncan?

Can he even bring his dad’s campaign record-keeper, Jason A. Brown, who earns $350/month while writing checks to the boss’s son for $7,000/month?

 

Response from John Duncan III at 3:06 p.m.

I’m still running my Dad’s campaign, representing him at various events, fundraising, meeting with constituents on his behalf, etc. As long as he’s on the ballot, I won’t be getting involved in any other races.

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