Metro Pulse/Ear to the Ground

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Big Changes at Der Neusen-Schentinel

We hear that the News-Sentinelmanagement is finally whipping their sloppy reporters into shape. Among the rules at their brand-new Mechanicsville Neusenfaktorie, which we hinted at in this column a while back, were a few surprises. No plants allowed on desks. Well, maybe that's reasonable. Plants are known to emit gasses unusual in a newsroom, like oxygen. No hot food allowed on desks. After operating for over a century in a neighborhood that had a wide variety of hot-food establishments, maybe the administration determined that hot food was making the employees sleepy. And no books piled on desks. Now, that'll be a special challenge for reporters finding themselves, for the first time ever, more than a mile away from the main library. A family photo is allowed, under certain conditions, but they'd better pick their favorite family member, because they allow only one of them.

We hear that last week one female staffer piped up at a meeting with a modest plea. "I am a pre-menopausal woman," she said. "Can I have a fan on my desk?" The answer, of course, was Nein. However, the following day the benevolent management circulated a memo that employees could use a fan for medical purposes, if they had a note from Herr Doktor.

Squeeze Dem Dems

The punchline of the standard Sevier County political joke usually involves something about Democrats meeting in a phone booth. But Democrat gubernatorial candidate Phil Bredesen seemed undaunted when he ventured deep into the heart of GOP country recently for a $1,000-a-head dinner at Gatlinburg's Buckhorn Inn. Organized by Gary Wade, a state Court of Criminal Appeals judge who in former lives was mayor of Sevierville and the high school squeeze of Dolly Parton, the dinner attracted more than 50 attendees—"And not all Democrats, either," according to one paying guest. Wade's daughter Katie took on hosting duties, and Wade's appellate court colleague Joe Tipton warmed up the crowd with some humorous remarks.

Also among those in attendance were Gatlinburg motelier Brownlee Reagan; movie star David Keith; radio commentator Dennis Francis and wife; TVA honcha Teresa Habiger; bankersBilly Carroll; father and sonR.B. and Ross Summitt (but no Pat); bigtime Demo fund-raiser Johnny Hayes; and deep-pocketed lawyer Ed Owens.

Meanwhile, right on the Metro Pulse deadline Wednesday, Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Bob Clement was the honoree at a high-dollar nooner at the palatial Lyons View home of Deane Conley. The casa de Conley used to be a popular hangout for Republicans, but has listed toward the Dems this year (Conley also hosted a pre-primary event to benefit Randy Nichols' campaign for the Democratic nomination). Georgia's Zell ("Give 'em Hell") Miller was to be the keynote speaker of this event.

Pointless Politics

Lost in the to-do over the Knox County Commission's call for a referendum on elected school superintendents is the reality of just how futile it is. Appointed school superintendents have been required in Tennessee since the passage of the Legislature's 1992 Basic Education Act. Proposals to change the law have been repeatedly defeated, in part because Knoxville state Sen. Ben Atchley has always supported appointed superintendents. "It was part of a compromise needed to satisfy the courts," Atchley says. "There was such a hodgepodge of appointed and elected school boards and superintendents around the state at that time that we needed to establish uniformity. That's what we did." Since most of Atchley's colleagues in senate leadership (most notably Lt. Gov. John Wilder) agree with him on the notion of appointed superintendents, county law director Mike Moyers is probably right in his summary of what Commission is doing. "It's a political statement," he says.

The Little County that Might

Only about 17,000 folks live in Fentress County. But in a bizarre twist of fate, the county's 10-member commission may get to decide which political party controls the Tennessee State Senate.

Here's how: The senate now has 18 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Since Democrat Bob Rochelle announced at the last minute that he did not intend to run for re-election, the Republicans are expected to pick up that seat in the form of Republican Mae Beavers.

Assuming Beavers wins, and assuming that the GOP retains control over a newly-redrawn District 13, the Republicans would likely have 16 people in the 33-member state senate after the Nov. 5 election. Meanwhile, Democrat state Sen. Lincoln Davis, who is from Fentress County, is running for Congress. If Davis wins his race (and he is favored), the county commission would have to appoint someone to fill Davis' seat for the next two years at a time when the senate has 16 Dems and 16 Reps.

And which party controls the commission? According to people familiar with county politics, five are Democrats and five are Republicans. So what does it mean if the state senate becomes majority Republican? It would mean good news for Van Hilleary if he wins and bad news for Bredesen if he wins. But it is very difficult to figure out what it might mean for Lt. Gov. John Wilder, who is a Democrat (or at least that's what he calls himself). The last time Republicans took the Senate, Wilder retained his seat because a handful of Republican state senators switched over and voted for him.

Cockadoodle Done

Normally, we are suitably reticent about our triumphs, but we took some major heat over our common wisdom-defying May prediction that Billy Tindell and Sam Anderson would each make strong bids as chairmen of County Commission and the county's school board, respectively. The reorganization of those bodies will occur this week. Watch what happens.

Mike, Mike, mo-mo Mike

Also, watch for a new entry into the name game of those wanting to be appointed to the 5th District commission seat soon to be vacated by incumbent Mike Arms, who will be joining the administration of new County Executive Mike Ragsdale. The new guy? Who else but radio exec Mike Hammond, who has recently served as chair of the county's efficiency panel. Hammond, who is also the basketball Vols' and Lady Vols' public address announcer, could become the frontrunner in this Mike World Order.

Sayonara

There didn't seem to be much sadness among soon-to-be former county commissioners nor the staff of soon-to-be former County Exec Tommy Schumpert at their last meeting Monday. Outgoing chairman Leo Cooper said he had mixed emotions about leaving. Schumpert's top aide Molly Pratt said she'd "turned in my exam, been to the prom, signed everybody's annuals and am waiting for my diploma. I'm just here so I won't be counted absent."