The public does not benefit by having one person in a district scoop up multiple elected offices. Having differing people in elected positions creates great diversity in thoughts and views. Many people have been noticing a strategic hoarding of multiple elected offices by one person, which is riddled with conflicts of interest.
Hoarding of power, or in many cases elected salaries by one person is bad for we the people.
The bill was introduced with the following intent,
Bill SB 1968/HB 2080 was introduced this year by Representative Dave Wright, R-Corryton, and Senator Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville.
This bill prohibits an individual from holding an elected office of a local government from holding another elected office in Tennessee at the same time; expands the prohibition on a candidate qualifying or being nominated for more than one state office or county constitutional office to include any elected office in this state.
This is a bill that is long past due.
In our own Hamilton County districts elected double dippers abound. There are more situations of double dipping than I care to identify.
We have a county commissioner that was appointed, who is also serving as a city council member. Then, we have a city council member that held onto her Hamilton County school board seat until it expired, when she should of resigned.
Each of these elected were compensated in a double dipping political salary that equated to about $50,000 a year, plus retirement benefits. I view this situation as political greed for compensation for public service that should be free, or a collection of power in one person.
There are many more examples.
If the elected care our community, why do the they need a salary and retirement, which is contrary to turnover of elected office? No one should be holding an elected position until retirement. Many citizens would do the job effectively for no pay, for public good.
I remember when there were no health insurance and retirement compensation associated with these local elected offices. It all started in the 1990’s.
Holding multiple offices only benefits the elected person, not the people. The bigger issues are conflicts of interest that abound in a person holding a city council office and county commissioner office, too much monarchy power.
At the same time, the elected double dippers have knowingly reduced the sanctity of multiple viewpoints on situations from the people, and they make no apologies for creating an elected monopoly. It is a shame that legislation is required to explain how the double dippers are wrong. Apparently, they need education in ethics, and why the multiple elected offices benefit the public.
Double dippers resign from your other elected offices, pick one office to serve in, and voluntarily do the right thing in the name of elected ethics. Why do y’all have to be ordered in state legislation to see that truth of greed optics?
To the state legislators, the approval of this bill is for the people, thank you.
Bill SB 1968/HB 2080-Representative Dave Wright, R-Corryton, and Senator Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville
Public Officials - As introduced, prohibits an individual holding an elected office of a local government from holding another elected office in this state at the same time; expands the prohibition on a candidate qualifying or being nominated for more than one state office or county constitutional office to include any elected office in this state. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 8.
Be blessed y’all.
April Eidson
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This new double dipping law in Tennessee seems like vindictive politics aimed at protecting political seats rather than the citizens. It's sickening to see laws being used for the wrong reasons. Look it up for yourself. They said out their own mouths that if Gloria ran against Blackburn they would announce this very document. It is not a coincidence one of the main people backing it is a republican from Knoxville where she is running as well, smh. And she (Johnson) is not trying to hold two spots at once she is running for the one she currently holds and against Ms. Blackburn which is not anything that (DeSantis) didn't just do in Florida. This is not about anything other than those two women. What a waste of taxpayer money and time. Another case of "if we cannot beat you, we make a bill."
Christopher Cooper