Knox Co Republican Party Leadership Filled With Nepotism and Cronyism

The Knox County Republican Party elected Ray Jenkins as it’s Chairman. The Second Assistant Secretary is Bylinda Jenkins, the wife of Ray Jenkins. Nepotism is alive and well within the Knox County Republican Party Executive Committee. Phyllis Severance survived a challenge by Victoria DeFreese on a voice vote. The vote was very close and a roll call vote could have easily been called for. Severance survived two years ago by a close roll call vote challenge by former Fourth District County Commission candidate Ruthie Kulhman. As for the Secretaries, Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey is first Secretary. Former Eighth District School Board Member Steve Hunley did not seek re-election as Second Secretary. He was replaced by the Knox County Republican Party Office Manager Suzanne Dewar. Severance endorsed Dewar last year in a contested Republican primary for Republican State Executive Committeewoman District Six. Dewar was defeated by Tea Party Organizer Sally Absher. So, cronyism is alive and well on the Knox County Republican Party Executive Committee. As for Treasurers, no change was made there. Nick McBride is Treasurer, Broadus Hubbs is First Assistant Treasurer and School Board Member Cindy Buttry is Second Assistant Treasurer. I guess it is only nepotism and cronyism when you do not like the person. I do not have two standards, I have ONLY ONE set of standards. If nepotism and cronyism is wrong, then it’s wrong for all. Georgiana Vines has written about the convention in today’s Sentinel. Why did she not point that Jenkins in talking about civility was not civil in his glowing introduction of Sherry Witt. Why Vines did not pick up on the nepotism of Jenkins and his wife both being on the executive committee and the cronyism of Severance and Dewar? Read Vines story, here. The four members of the Republican State Executive Committee by their election round out the Knox County Republican Executive Committee. They are Sally Absher, Ted Hatfield, Karen Brown and Ken Gross. Sources standing around after the convention and many people had left heard Severance announce that the Executive Committee was having a meeting. At least two (maybe all 4) of the Executive Committee members that were in attendance at the convention left before being informed of the meeting.