Phil Ballard Is an Official Courthouse Politican

Today, Phil Ballard became an “official” courthouse politician. Today, Ralph Watson, longtime Assessor employee retired. Also, Ballard called John Whitehead into his office and informed him that his position has been eliminated. If you will remember on July 25, 2008 Ballard said he wouldn’t hire Whitehead. However, he did, primarily because in the Asessor’s office only Watson and Whitehead are certified Appraisers. So, come Monday morning there is NO certified appraiser in our Knox County Property Assessor’s office. This year the Property Assessors office MUST reassess all property in Knox County and NO ONE holds a certification to lead the effort.

Now in this story in the News Sentinel in September of 2008. Ballard said that he hasn’t cut any staff. However, before this story was published he did eliminate longtime employee Martha Keyes. He has now eliminated John Whitehead and Ralph Watson retired.

After Ballard took office he handed out a large pay raise to several employees from within the office including one to a relative of the former Knox County Property Assessor and a key campaign endorsement that Ballard received during the election. He also retained the daughter of a State Senator that appeared in television commercials and campaign events on his behalf. About two months ago Ballard hired a longtime employee of Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale. Sources are now indicating that the son of a prominent elected official has been hired in the Property Assessor’s office. While a father of one of Ballard’s key employees is on the payroll of the prominent elected officials staff.