Over on the Facebook page for subscribers of Compass Knox. Lisa Starbuck, a citizen member of the Knox County Charter Review Committee asked the question if anyone had ideas as the Charter Review were about to start meeting again.
Grant Rosenberg, “Republican” candidate for Knox County Commission, Second District was quick to post that ALL elected positions should non partisan,
“seems to work fine with City Council and School Board” he opined.
Randy Pace, Knox County Republican Party Chairman was quick to respond, as that is his job as the Republican Chair. I was the Republican Chairman 2005-2007, I am keenly aware of the position and believe Pace was right in his defense.
On December 12, 2019 Rosenberg filed a Candidate Nominating Petition, signing it as a Republican candidate under penalty of a Class D Felony.
Rosenberg responded to his political party Chairman on the Facebook post.
“I reject the idea that political parties should only accept candidates who pass a “perfect” partisan litmus test in order to run for local office.”
Well, Rosenberg is ignorant on the process, (ignorant isn’t bad, with proper study he can become informed and not ignorant on the issue)
The TN Republican bylaws stipulate the requirements to be a “bonafide” candidate, being “perfect” is not in the requirements.
Section 1. The following shall be Party membership requirements for candidacy to public office. The TRP hereby defines the term “bona fide Republican,” or the like, as:
A. Any individual who is actively involved in the Tennessee Republican Party, his County Republican Party, or any recognized auxiliary organization of either; and resides and is registered to vote in said county; and either
B. Any individual who has voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent Statewide Republican primary elections; or
C. Any individual who is vouched for in writing to the satisfaction of the 13 181197.
State Chairman as a bona fide Republican, such as by an officer of the TRP, a member of the SEC, CEC of the County where the individual resides, or a Republican elected official. The State Chairman may require additional verification that the individual in question is indeed a bona fide Republican and shall have final authority to make the determination.
The complete TN Republican Party bylaws can be found, here.
On March 3, 2020 Rosenberg received 2, 642 Republican votes, you can bet if they discover his comments on partisan elections he has flipped the middle finger to all 2,642 of them. His Democrat opponent Courtney Durrett received 4, 276 votes.
Wasn’t Rosenberg one of County Mayor Mike Ragsdale’s top people?
Yes he was an employee with Mayor Ragsdale
I, for one, don’t want the county commission elections to be nonpartisan. In fact, I would like the city elections to be partisan. I feel like the “nonpartisan” label is a scam, a smokescreen, so the people don’t really know who they’re electing. Because I’m pretty sure these people don’t check their ideologies at the door once they’re elected.