I agree- It seems of late that our little paper has taken a "Fox News", one-sided stance. I don't like the paper I read being opinionated. I want to hear both sides of the facts and make my own opinions.

I don't see any reality in slandering the RCN by claiming it has a Fox news bias. The paper seems to have no agenda except for getting facts and information in print. I have often stated that they leave out a lot of information in their stories because of space and the ability to verify things in a timely manner and I wish they had a functional web presence for additional information. It's the reality of the news biz that there simply isn't enough money in print to do all this.

If I have a quarrel with the paper it is that they sometimes place emphasis on covering one aspect of a story when I think another aspect is the real meat. However, almost every time I hear someone complain about the RCN it isn't really that they got any facts wrong. It is more that they really didn't want the paper talking about certain subjects.

AS for election coverage, I have a really nice insert in my RCN that has most of the candidates in it. What do you think is missing?

Leaving out a lot of information on a story can be pretty significant if that information could explain the story better or even give it another view. Perhaps I was a little harsh in calling them "fox-ish". Clearly, it has not gotten that bad, but there have been a couple of instances in this political race where it would seem they are leaning towards one particular candidate. There has even been a rumor that someone at the paper was calling the other candidate to give them a heads up every time their opponent was running an ad.

(link...)

The Morgan County News is much more in tune with their community needs. The RCN is not living up to the standards of Boots Cook and other prominent past owners such as Bill Hall's father.

As a positive to the Roane County News, no matter which candidate or which political persuasion you talk with each side feels that the Roane County News is against them, so they are treating everyone fair in that aspect.

As a related matter - I received the Roane County News-Record Shopper in my mail this week. In know that this publication helps them beef up their quoted circulation in order to attract more inserts and advertisers, but it goes straight in the recycle bin.

How much is this paper costing tax payers in disposal cost?

One week before election and our newspaper editor writes about how much she likes to ride her bicycle. The RCN's has been a joke for years.

The questions and responses below are copied from the Ms. Wright's website. I would ask those of you who wish to be informed voters read or at least scan this. It may be of particular interest to those of you who may not have yet voted. This is very informative and worth your time to read. Ms. Wright, who I am supporting, has provided in great detail her plans for this office and the response to this questions indicates great thought in the her answers. I also think you will find her answers are consistent from her first day platform. Even if you support another candidate it is worth your time to read this. Ms. Wright detailed response not only here but in the forums and other outlets provides insight that she has given this office a great deal of thought and has shared her detailed views openly with the public.

Dear Gail,
Thank you for your questions and I apologize for my belated response. I will try my best to answer the questions you have asked and explain my platform to you.

• How much of your funding is provided by the Roane County Commission and how much from the TCA? It is my understanding from my commissioner that Roane Co is around $5M in arrears of collection of fines/costs. What will you do to get those costs collected? Why are the amounts so high?
The Circuit Court Clerk's office is a fee office and as such signs an agreement with the county commission to turn over all fees to the county government in exchange for the processing of the payroll and funding the day-to-day operation of the office. The total amount budgeted for the Circuit Court Clerk, which includes Circuit, Criminal, General Sessions, and Juvenile courts totals $1,326,670. The breakdown is Circuit and Criminal $187,496; General Sessions $441,973, and Juvenile $697,201. Presently the entire amount is funded through the county's general fund per the agreement mentioned above.
The figure of $5M is subject to debate depending on who you ask. I met with the county budget director in October of 2009 and was given the figure of between $4M and $14M. The issue of pinpointing the exact amount is difficult due to the recordkeeping. Determining outstanding costs and who may owe those costs is the direct result of the lack of up-to-date technology.
I will work with the County Budget Director to try to determine what may be collectible. Information provided to me through the District Attorney's Office is that once a defendant has completed his/her criminal sentence, the unpaid balance becomes a civil matter and is almost uncollectible. The only way to collect it then would be garnishments and civil judgments with no guarantee of collection. What I would do upon taking the office is to ensure the accuracy of recordkeeping and accounting to make sure from that point forward that we maintain an accurate account of collections. I would also work with the judges to either collect court costs up front or set up a payment schedule. When scheduled payments fall behind, I would request a capias be issued by the judiciary with the bond being set at the amount of the court cost plus the cost of the capias. Up front collections of court costs and the issuance of capiases are being used in other counties in this judicial district and are working well. Those courts don't have the problems with collections to the extent we have in this county.
• What is your implementation plan to be fiscally responsible with the limited budget of the CC Clerk?
The first step is to get in the office and determine what functions can be streamlined for efficiency. Cross training is another method that I would incorporate to ensure that work in all offices continues to be completed without additional personnel. The current Circuit Court Clerk returns funds to the county which is certainly admirable, but perhaps those funds could be used for improvement costs related to state-of-the-art technology upgrades. Any major improvements requested would be in the form of written justification to the budget committee whose meetings are open to the public. To more effectively answer this question, a complete study of the daily operation will need to be assessed before I could provide additional information.
• What will the costs be to modernize the technologies for the Information System Database?
Upgrading of technology for this office is scheduled for 2011 and is mandated by legislation for all Tennessee courts. It was offered in past years but was not used by the present Circuit Court Clerk because of concerns with the system. The system, known as TNCIS (Tennessee Court Information System), is a state software package mandated for implementation. I have not been able to obtain the information associated with the purchase of the package or if there is a purchase cost. However, since it is a legislative mandate, by law it must be implemented.

• How will you pay for this?
The present Circuit Court Clerk has returned a substantial amount to the general fund at the end of each year's budget for the past several years. The amount of the returned funds could cover the implementation of the software. The use of the upgraded software would increase the efficiency and recordkeeping, paying for itself over time.
• How will you establish an online payment system?
On my website you may have noticed that I used PayPal to accept donations. PayPal, Authorize.net, Merchants Account Express, and CourtFeePay.com are just some of the payment systems available today. Online payments are already in use in many other counties across the state and nation. I will work with the county budget director, the county commission and CTAS (County Technical Advisory Services) to determine the best and most secure method to implement the online system. Online payments will provide those owing fines or costs a simpler way of making a payment. It will be particularly useful for those paying traffic fines, both resident and non-residents.
• If the previous court system could not collect the fees and fines and are $5M in arrears, what will you do to implement your plan?
Upgraded technology, training, and more accurate recordkeeping resulting from better supervision will be one way to ensure collections. I would also research a "tickler system" to alert me and the deputy clerks of scheduled and overdue payments. As mentioned previously, overdue scheduled payments would result in the request of an issuance of a capias.

• The county does not have organizational charts nor does it have position descriptions--how will you develop policies/procedures in conjunction with existing county personnel manual?
The last time the personnel manual was upgraded for the Circuit Court Clerk's office as presented to the County Executive was in 1997. There are no supervisors or group leaders reporting to the current Circuit Court Clerk. As such, she is responsible for the supervision of each deputy clerk. Given that, an organization chart would be very simple. One of the first things I plan to do is create job descriptions and feedback/performance reviews. I will review the county personnel manual and work closely with the county attorney to ensure there are no conflicts with my policies and those of the county personnel manual.

• It is extremely hard to obtain professional development training, let alone fund it and get staff to attend. How will you implement your plan for these opportunities?
Training for Circuit Court Clerks and deputy clerks is available though the state, usually at little or no cost. The primary cost associated with this training is per diem for attendees which would come from the Circuit Court Clerk's budget. By possibly having the training locally those costs could be eliminated. The increase in collection of costs and fines would assist in offsetting these costs as well as using the pool of returned revenue. All of this can be accomplished without an increase in the tax rate based on associated cost of the operation of this office. Increasing the collections of court costs and fines would not only pay for new technology and training, but increase extra revenue for the county's general fund.

• What do you mean by this statement "I will be spending money donated to my campaign on worthy causes where both the cause and my campaign benefit rather than on self-serving novelties"?

I have tried to run a fiscally conservative campaign, just as I would run the office. For instance, I determined early that I wanted to use my campaign funds, both personal and contributed, in a responsible manner. Like all candidates, I've had to purchase signs, newspaper advertisements (although minimal) and informational brochures to get my message to the voters. I resisted purchasing t-shirts until the requests for them mandated a small order (less than 150). I am most proud of the fact that a fair amount of contributions helped both my campaign and worthy causes. I was a hole sponsor for golf tournaments in support of St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Avery Trace D.A.R., Pemberton/Miller Scholarship Fund, Chase Narramore fundraiser, and the N.A.A.C.P. I have also used funds in support of the Matt Rittenhouse run to support the Harriman Police Explorers, Thunder Road Celebration in Rockwood, contributed to paving of the Kingston Optimist Club ball field parking lot, advertising to support the South of the River Sports Network, and table sponsor for the Kiwanis Club breakfast in Kingston and the Rotary Club breakfast in Harriman. I am also a sponsor for the fireworks for the City of Kingston.

• What differentiates you from the other candidates?
Management and supervisory experience, and total number years of experience in the workforce, particularly the number of years I have been in management and supervision. Working in a secure government facility, I am extremely detail oriented and realize the importance of accurate recordkeeping of any kind as well as fostering and nurturing teamwork of varying personalities in the workplace. Anyone who has ever supervised more than one or two people will agree that while it is rewarding in many ways, it is also challenging to nurture and direct the different personalities. I have seen many sides of management, from the joy of interviewing and hiring a new employee to documenting and determining terminations and layoffs. The Circuit Court Clerk is an administrative and management position that requires someone with strong experience and background in the direction of personnel.

• Why would you take a position that pays $63K annually?
The pay for the Circuit Court Clerk is $69,461 annually. I am eligible for retirement from my current employer and that affords me the opportunity to seek this office. I am not seeking the position for political advancement or any reason other than public service. We are often critical of our local government and the way it operates. I decided that since I am eligible for retirement, I would use my management experience and put my effort to use instead of just sitting back and vocalizing any criticism.

I don't know everything about the office and that is why I think it would be unwise to change personnel. I do know how to manage people and the present employees are a valuable pool of resource and knowledge. What they need is someone experience in getting them focused; someone to provide direction and discipline, and foster an atmosphere of teamwork to assist in modernizing this office. No matter who the public elects, none of us has held that office and cannot fully understand the total realm of responsibilities. That is why it so important that the new Circuit Court Clerk be someone experienced in management and possesses the ability to restore stability to this office.

At your suggestion and with your permission, I will post your questions and my responses on my website.

Thank you for your interest in my campaign.
Mona Gardner Wright

A Vote for Mona Wright for Clerk is the only way to go! Seriously, she is a dandy! She has worked harder than the other candidates and that tells me she will work hard in the office; not using it as a stepping stone as one of the other candidates is doing!

I am supporting Ms. Wright as I think her detailed plans as outlined in the above, in the forums, ads, and literature show far more studious thought into the issues surrounding the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

One thing that is in her favor is that she has never sought nor held any other political office. That is what this county. state, and country needs. We need to put someone in these offices, locally, state, and nationally, who are not loooking to climb the political ladder, longtime politicians, or part of the policitcal "clic". We need professionl candidates with service to the public in mind instead of the candidates desiring to have public serving serve them.

You say.....
One thing that is in her favor is that she has never sought nor held any other political office. That is what this county. state, and country needs. We need to put someone in these offices, locally, state, and nationally, who are not loooking to climb the political ladder, longtime politicians, or part of the policitcal "clic". We need professionl candidates with service to the public in mind instead of the candidates desiring to have public serving serve them.

I say... I haven't heard this on any of the candidates for this office... What are you trying to "hint" at?

You are hinting at it- just to put thoughts and ideas in voters heads. You have no absolute proof that anybody currently holding one office and running for another is doing so to prepare for a future in another one. There is no reason to believe that a non-office holder is only doing so because they want that one office only too. Perhaps they are seeking it as a stepping stone themselves? I mean, based on your outlandish idea, the ones you allege to be out for political advancement had to start somewhere, right? Perhaps your candidate is doing just that as well.

Not hinting at anything. Your candidate has already mislead the public. She started out saying she was going to replace personnel and yhen said no when the heat got on her. Now she is elected and in her victory speech said 5 will go because I am bringing five with me. She is elected and don't have to mislead you to get your vote. By the way wait and see those five will be two from where she did work, the girlfriend of John Sublet, a former emplyee, and a person who works in another county who is losing her job. All previous promises made by the candidate. She seems to have forgotten that the county was sued by a former office holder who did the same thing and the employeess won $250,000.00. Think an attorney would now that.

Yes GoVols their prediction was right, Kim fired 2 from sessions and 1 from juvenile. One woman a single mother of three. Pray for these women, finding a job in todays market is next to impossible.