Buddy Burkhardt, a previous chair of the Knox County Republican Party, is the new chair. It did not take 15 ballots. In fact, the first vote was 227 for Buddy to 187 for Keith Lyon.
Two years ago, Daniel Herrera got 242 votes to 141 for Harry Brooks. My story is here. The money quote was from Daniel: As the proud owner of an AR-15 … I’ll be aggressive and ruthless” in promoting Republican values. “And I commit to put $125,000 in our bank account.”
Fifteen more people voted in 2021 than in 2023. Most see the Feb. 18, 2023, vote as a repudiation of Herrera and his allies. Guess I need to check on the amount of money in the bank account.
Bob Crye, president of the Halls Republican Club, sent me a picture of the new officers. “I was at a funeral,” I said. “Hmmm. That’s what Mayor Jacobs said, too,” said Bob. “Bet it wasn’t the same funeral,” I answered.
Vice chair is Bob’s wife, Janis Crye. She defeated former school board candidate Sherri Garrett of Powell. Crye is active in the Halls Crossroads Women’s League and plays a mean game of tennis. She has served as party treasurer.
Martin Ammons was elected treasurer over Kevin Teeters. I don’t know these guys. Christy Gentry is vice treasurer, winning over Rob Gray.
Jeremy Coffey was elected secretary over Gary Loe, president of the West Knox Republican Club.
Signs of life for the local GOP. It is positive that Daniel Herrera has moved on. It is positive that the GOP had contested elections – always preferable to recycling the same folks. I wish the GOP would revert to the “big tent” philosophy of my youth.
Of course, Republicans were the minority then.
Growth comes from a diversity of views; stagnation and ultimate death come from fussing over increasingly specific language (like “woke” and “critical race theory”) instead of finding ways to make government work better.
It’s a pendulum, folks. What is old becomes new as what was once new ages and rots.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today Inc.