Holding dual roles at different levels of government has some advantages, Beets said. Often the challenges faced by the county and the city are interconnected. Having a perspective at both levels makes it easier to understand complex issues, he said.

Roane County executive Woody agreed that there are positive aspects to holding multiple offices.

Knowledge of the subject matter and the motivation of the elected official are important factors in good political decision-making, he said.

"The people with the most knowledge of the situation usually make the best decisions," he said.

The flip side is that people with the wrong motivation can use their knowledge for the wrong purposes, Woody said.

According to Beets the specific responsibilities of the positions are important to consider, Kingston has a "weak mayor" by description of the city charter, he said.

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