Below is a story I wrote nearly a year and a half ago. At that time no one knew the mayor's intentions, now we all know. You can figure their motives yourself.  

Carnac the Magnificent couldn't have done better.

A public notice in Wednesday's News Herald states:

Lenoir City Council will hold a Public Hearing at City Hall on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 5:45 pm. The purpose of the hearing will be to gather public input on the following ordinances: 

An Ordinance to amend Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 3-103(2) of the Lenoir City Municipal Code regulating the qualifications for Office of City Judge.

According to the Lenoir City Municipal Code, Title 3 chapter 1, 3-103 (2) refers to the qualifications to seek/hold the office of city judge.

Title 3 chapter 1, 3-103 (2) Qualifications. The city judge shall be a resident of the City of Lenoir City one year and a resident of Tennessee five years immediately preceding his election, at least 30 years old and licensed to practice law in Tennessee.

In 2016, Lenoir City attorney, Robin McNabb, was elected to the position of Lenoir City Judge after the death of then judge, Terry Vann. Ms. McNabb's term was six years to complete the unexpired portion of the eight year term of Judge Vann. McNabb's term will be up in 2022.

So what portion of Title 3 chapter 1, 3-103 (2) are the mayor and council wanting to amend? Don't know, a copy of the resolution is not available and would probably take several weeks to get through a public records request.

I'm going to go ahead and take a guess. Resident of Tennessee five years is a state law, 30 years old is state law and licensed to practice law in Tennessee is state law, so those can't be changed. That only leaves, resident of the City of Lenoir City one year. Looking into a crystal ball, I'd say they plan to do away with the Lenoir City residency requirement. I'd also say they want to allow any attorney in Loudon County to be eligible to run for the office. My last guess is, Lenoir City mayor/council's attorney, Gregory Harrison or some other outside the city limits lawyer is planning to run for city judge if the ordinance is changed. It's no secret that Mayor Aikens is no fan of Judge McNabb.

I could be all wrong. Hopefully details of the amendment will be available at some point.

Then we'll know.
2/1/21