Dear Mr. Padgett:
Knox County has allowed the Election Commission to install a polling place at the Knox County Clerk’s office in Knoxville Center. Reference is made to that certain lease (“Lease”) dated March 22, 2004 by and between Knoxville Center LLC (“Landlord”) and Knox County Clerk (“Tenant”), and specifically to section 1.1(n) entitled “Permitted Use” which reads in pertinent part as follows:
The Premises shall be occupied and used by Tenant solely for the purpose of conducting therein the business of the operation of county governmental offices and uses as allowed by law, including a wedding chapel and credit union office, and Tenant shall not use or permit or suffer the use of the Premises for any other business or purpose.
The installation of a polling place is outside the scope of the permitted use of the Premises. Therefore, Landlord demands that Tenant immediately remove the polling place from Knoxville Center. As you know, Knoxville Center is private property and as the private property owner, Knoxville Center LLC does not allow campaigning on its private property. Therefore, pursuant to Knox County Election rules, copy attached, the polling place must be removed immediately. Failure to comply with this demand will result in Landlord availing itself of all remedies under the Lease, at law or in equity. Please govern yourself accordingly.
Sincerely,
James C. Owen
As early voting started this former Democrat write-in candidate, current Independent write-in candidate along with the purple Chancellor candidate and the former KnoxDem Chairman took their Democrat slate of candidates and deemed them The Challengers. They began campaigning under the false pretense of voter education, the Mall Management intervened do to mall walkers and patrons complaining. (not Commissioner Tindell) The crew stopped for one day and returned, when mall Security came to stop them, they ran into the former Chairman’s office playing the first grade game of hide and seek, giggling and have a merry little time. Keep in mind this is a Knox County office, where Knox County business is supposed to be conducted on behalf of the taxpayers of Knox County. Mr. Padgett intervened to stop their little game. Mr. Padgett, though he is a Democrat showed real leadership on this and stopped them from attempting to shield themselves from the security and the law by locking the former Chairman’s office. The Knox County Election Commission then requested Knox County Sheriffs Department position a deputy or two in order that the election process is operated fair and legal.
So, now Mall Management has no other option but to issue a cease and desist order. The closing of Knoxville Center at this stage in early voting will not allow an alternative location. The closest location will be the Clerk’s office on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue.
The reason for the second largest early voting location will be shut down is the result of the actions of the former KnoxDem Chairman, the Independent Write-In candidate for County Commission Second District Seat B and the Democrat Chancellor candidate that has printed himself purple.
Childish actions produce real penalties.
