This is likely the most blatant attempt to influence an election in the city's history. The idea is to discourage the candidates who mayor Aikens doesn't want to get elected and to try to get his yes man, city attorney Greg Harrison, elected to the judges bench. The mayor knows Harrison will do anything he tells him to. Apparently, Aikens has called everybody he knows in the city twisting arms to get Harrison elected. But remember, Harrison doesn't live in the city. He can't even vote for himself. 

So what happens if Harrison gets elected? Does anyone believe that Harrison is going to do the job for a paltry $7,200.00? Based on the billboard ads, news paper ads and signs, Harrison, or "whoever" is funding his campaign, has already spent more than that on his campaign. He already makes $60,000.00 per year as part time city attorney. Will he give that up for $7,200.00?

Here's their problem, while Ms. Kelso's letter to the judge candidates states that the salary for the judge will "be evaluated on an annual bases", state law says otherwise.    

TCA 16-18-205. Salary

 

(a) The salary of the popularly elected city judge shall be established in one (1) of the following ways:

(1) The salary may be fixed by the governing body by ordinance or resolution prior to the term of office and shall not be increased nor diminished during the term.

Nobody's fooled, if Harrison gets elected, of course Tony will pay him the big bucks. If he doesn't get elected, he'll stay on at his current 60k, city attorney job. But if one of the other candidates gets elected, he'll hold to the $7,200.00 pay. How he'll get around state law to change the salary for his right hand man, is yet to be seen. You know they have a plan.

At some point, it would seem that voters in Lenoir City would get tired of being played the fool.