Update: Race underway to replace Shanks

Sandra ClarkUncategorized

See comments from Cathy Shanks below:

It’s an interesting race among four Republican men to replace Cathy Quist Shanks, clerk of Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile courts. Three spoke Monday at the Halls Republican Club. The fourth, Charlie Susano, did not attend. Here’s what I wrote on Dec. 13, 2016, in the old newspaper:

Charles Susano III is an archeologist, we hear, and now he’s interested in running for Circuit Court clerk. That’s great training for an office where he’s liable to find dead bones and relics – and that’s among the folks who actually show up for work!

But back to Monday night – the contrast was vivid.

Don Ridings showed up with six folks in campaign shirts passing out Moon pies and Pepsi cola. Ridings is a big guy in a black suit who says he has never wanted to work for somebody else. So, at age 12, he organized the neighborhood kids to work for him in a lawn mowing business. He rewarded them with Moon pies and Pepsi.

“My name is my reputation for service,” he said. His current businesses include a training program for insurance agents and a technology firm whose clients include some of the country’s largest retail companies.

Ridings did not mince words. “This office is the administrative arm of the courts; the clerk is a glorified secretary. … In 2005, Memphis implemented online filing (of court documents). We aren’t there yet. … We need a higher level of service and transparency. (Shanks) has not been there watching (the office). It’s a full-time job.”

Scott Smith, a former insurance agency owner who also serves on the state Republican Executive Committee, said the “driving force” of the race is substance abuse. He said 850 Knox County kids are in the foster care system, most taken from their parents because of addiction. “I don’t want to see 1,000.”

Smith is youthful, wearing casual clothes and a beard. He spoke passionately about the need for the court clerk to work with others to reverse the opioid crisis. If elected, he would move his office to Division Street, headquarters of the Juvenile Court. When Bob Crye asked Smith how the clerk’s office can impact drug use, Smith said we must “think outside the box.”

Smith also had indirect criticism of Shanks, saying, “Don’t be absentee; don’t delegate the most important part of the job. … If you do it right, it’s a hard job; it’s a long job.” He also advocated for electronic filing and electronic billing for fees.

Tim Wheeler actually worked for the office he now seeks, rising to the post of chief deputy before being fired by Shanks. He stresses his experience, saying the new clerk should “know what to do on Day One.”

Wheeler is a licensed funeral director who now works for Bridges Funeral Home in East Knox County. He wore a stylish white suit and spoke quietly. “I’m running to make a change,” he said, promising to replace “upper management” in the clerk’s office.

“In the last nine years, the present clerk has turned over no (excess) funds to the county. … Last year, Mike Hammond (criminal court clerk) turned over $800,000 and he’s already turned in almost $500,000 this year,” Wheeler said.

This race is not yet set. The qualifying deadline is noon Feb. 15, 2018.

Updated: Comment from Cathy Quist Shanks

“Tim got it wrong. The last time we had excess fees to turn over was in 2012 and we did. The two Clerks Offices operate under different state fee statutes.”

Thanks.

Cathy

 

From: Sandra Clark [mailto:sclark426@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 12:11 AM
To: Cathy Shanks
Subject: Fact check from Knox TN Today

Cathy —  Tim Wheeler made this statement at the Halls Republican Club tonight.

“In the last nine years, the present clerk has turned over no (excess) funds to the county. … Last year, Mike Hammond (criminal court clerk) turned over $800,000 and he’s already turned in almost $500,000 this year,” Wheeler said.

Wanted to give you an opportunity to rebut or clarify.

Sandra

 

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