One woman, one vote
by Larry Van Guilder

 Last Tuesday, in another slap at the democratic process, Knox County Commission squelched Mayor Mike Ragsdale’s plan to ask the state legislature’s help in scheduling a special election for term-limited county offices. Ragsdale’s initiative was defeated by a vote of 8-10, with one commissioner, Craig Leuthold, courageously abstaining.

Three of the eight commissioners who voted in favor of Ragsdale’s request – Charles Bolus, Richard Cate and Sharon Cawood – were among those appointed to their seats Jan. 31. Not surprisingly, the votes of Bolus, Cates and Cawood were outnumbered by those of their fellow appointees 5-3. With the departure of term-limited Diane Jordan, Cawood – who replaced her husband Mark – is now the lone female voice in this august body.

Anyone who says the entire appointment process was flawed – to put it politely – gets no argument from this quarter.

As for Ragsdale’s failed request, some might say it amounted to little more than grandstanding. There are, after all, state constitutional issues involved here. Even with a favorable vote from the Commission, the odds that the legislature would or could act to schedule a special election were long.

For now, at least, like it or not, Knox County is left with the 19 commissioners who voted (or didn’t) on Ragsdale’s request.

Because she replaced her husband, Cawood has been pelted by the countywide hail of criticism that erupted after Jan. 31. Yet unlike five fellow appointees, one of whom, Josh Jordan, replaced his mother, Cawood joined commissioners Bolus and Cate in supporting the idea of a special election.

Was she grandstanding? Was it a case of “buyer’s remorse?”

I have never met Charles Bolus or Richard Cate, so I can’t speak for their intentions. But I do know Sharon Cawood, and her vote was a reflection of her character.

Cawood was guilty of an attack of acute naiveté before the appointment fiasco of Jan. 31. She failed to foresee the inevitable (and justifiable) outrage of voters at the way the process went down, and that’s a painful irony.

Had elections been held to fill the eight vacated seats, Cawood’s chances of winning a place on the Commission would have been excellent. She’s intelligent, disciplined and hard working, ably qualified to hold a position in county government. Now, she may be hard-pressed to hold on to her seat in 2008.

In explaining her vote of last Tuesday, Cawood said she “felt like the citizens of Knox County were being excluded, and the right thing to do all along was to have an election to fill the positions. I wanted the folks in the 6th District to have a voice.”

It’s said that voters have short memories. Ain’t it the truth. By the time the 2008 elections roll around, some of what happened last month may have been forgotten.

Don’t count on it. But as you watch Cawood’s performance during the coming months, remember her vote Feb. 20. 

Contact Larry Van Guilder by e-mail at lvgknox@mindspring.com, or call 293-2179.