Bill Haslam, the man who might have been a minister, became instead a politician – two-term mayor of Knoxville, two-term governor of Tennessee – and now he’s written a book. “Faithful Presence: The Promise and the Peril of Faith in the Public Square” will be available May 25, 2021. Pre-orders are taken now at Amazon and Christian Book. Christians should form their politics to their faith, rather than shaping their faith to fit their politics, Haslam writes. “They seem to forget their calling is to be used by God in service of others rather than to use God to reach their own desires and ends.”

17 folks have picked up petitions for city council elections with 5 having returned them. Qualifying deadline is noon May 20, 2021 – 12 days from today. Incumbents are seeking reelection: Tommy Smith (District-1), Andrew Roberto (D-2), Seema Singh (D-3), Lauren Rider (D-4) and Gwen McKenzie (D-6). At close of day Friday, petitions had been returned from Smith, Roberto and Rider, plus challengers Jim Klonaris (D-4) and Deidra C. Harper (D-6).

And now for 2022: Justin Biggs is kicking off his GOP Primary campaign for Knox County trustee with a 5 p.m. reception Thursday, May 20, at Calhoun’s on the River. It’s free and open. RSVP to vote@electbiggs.com. Incumbent Trustee Ed Shouse is term-limited.

Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.