Former Knox County Commissioner Wanda Moody has passed away over the weekend.
Moody and I talking about my support for her in 1988 when she challenged Democrat Superintendent of Schools Earl Hoffmeister. Moody and I haven’t agreed on much since, but we have been nice to one another. that is rare in politics. Being kind, when you disagree.
I last saw her in July 2019 as the City of Knoxville named the Winston Road overpass for her. (pic above)
I first got involved in politics in 1982 as a Sophomore in High School. In 1988 when she challenged Democrat Earl Hoffmeister for Knox County Superintendent of Schools (then an elected job of the people) Being the young loyalist, I took her qualifying petition to a Republican dinner and quickly learned that all Republicans don’t support ALL Republicans. However, in that race, I stayed with Moody and she lost. On the General Election day, a Moody supporter verbally challenged me for not supporting Moody. I told my elder that they didn’t know what they were talking about. I went into the voting precinct and called Moody (no cell phones), Moody assured me that she knew I supported her and that she would correct the volunteer. In July 2019, Moody and I talked about the Superintendent race and how she and I were together on that one.
In 1990, I ran for Knox County Commission as a 23 year old man challenging a 23 year incumbent. The incumbent won the primary with less than 115 vote victory. During that primary I met Tim Hutchison, who won the primary for Sheriff and went on to win the General Election and served as Sheriff until 2007.
After an attempt in 1994 by KPD’s Rudy Bradley to beat Hutchison. Moody began a plethora of lawsuits attempting to dismantle and undo Sheriff Hutchison and his powers. None that were successful, to my knowledge.
Anyway, the one thing I learned from Moody is just cause your a Republican doesn’t mean you have to openly support another Republican. I chose to remain quiet, (if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all) however, it seems to me that with Moody she sought the judicial system.
The one question, I wish I had asked Moody was why Hutchison? Did she ultimately want him out as Sheriff or just wanted the Department run as she wanted it ran.
