- 976 words
Updated May 4, 2026, 11:10 a.m. ET
- Victor Ashe criticizes U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett for his legislative priorities.
- Ashe says Republican county mayor candidate Betsy Henderson is wrongly taking credit for defeating a sales tax increase last year.
- Democratic candidate Bryan Goldberg is kicking off his campaign for a state representative seat in West Knoxville.
- Former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has a new book, “The Education of a Senator: From JFK to Trump,” set for release.
U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett is back again on the topic of UFOs, saying in a recent hearing reported in the New York Sun that the public would become “unglued” if they knew what UFOs are reaching this planet. He added “people would be up all night worried about this.”
What is sad is that, while worrying about UFOs, Burchett is avoiding doing anything effective about the high price of gasoline or the war in Iran. Burchett’s legislative priorities have little to do with the East Tennessee region he was elected to represent.
Meanwhile, one has to wonder why Burchett has done very little to secure passage of his legislation with Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen to open up Tennessee Valley Authority board committee meetings to the public. Republican Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty have done nothing to move the legislation, either. It should not be difficult to move it among fellow Republicans to the floor for a real vote.
Burchett’s Democratic opponent, Michaela Barnett, has not yet effectively highlighted his shortcomings at this stage. Perhaps more will come from her this summer. If she expects to win 40% or more of the vote, she will need to pick up her campaigning pace.
Republican Betsy Henderson, candidate for county mayor, takes credit for defeating Mayor Indya Kincannon’s sales tax increase last year. This is simply untrue. While Henderson did oppose the sales tax, she did not even vote against it as she does not live in the city of Knoxville. It is fiction to claim she led the fight.
The one elected public official who did do a lot to defeat the tax hike was former Vice Mayor Andrew Roberto, who publicly opposed it and incurred Kincannon’s anger for doing so. Henderson has failed to outline how she will pay for road improvements and how much more money she would recommend applying to roads if elected.
Democratic candidate Bryan Goldberg kicks off his campaign for state representative from West Knoxville and south Knox County at 6-8 p.m. May 13 at Lakeshore Park. The public is invited. He will oppose the winner of the three-way GOP primary Aug. 6 between incumbent Elaine Davis, Brent Jones and Elliott Schuchardt. This contest is considered to be competitive in both the GOP primary and the general election in November.
President Donald Trump really set a new low when he said he would destroy Iran’s civilization if his conditions for ending the conflict were not met. Even in World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt never suggested he would destroy the civilizations of Germany or Japan. It clearly violates the Geneva Conventions. Trump’s use of foul language degrades him and the office he holds. He has become an embarrassment.
Former governor and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has a new book coming out May 19 titled “The Education of a Senator: From JFK to Trump.” It has a foreword by historian and author Jon Meacham. A book signing in Knoxville is expected but has not been scheduled.
Alexander has written several books, all well received. This one promises to be no exception. Copies can be ordered at bookstores such as Union Avenue and Barnes and Noble or online.
Ruth Coughlin died at age 103 on her actual birthday: March 16. When she was 96, she sent me a handwritten note on lovely stationery thanking me for running her birthday in my column because she wanted everyone to know she was “alive, well and kicking.” She was active up to the end of her life.
Birthdays
May 8: Former deputy to the Knoxville mayor Gene Patterson is 72. Caroline Cooley is 75. Javiette V. Samuel is 53. David Williamson is 84. Former State Rep. Ryan Haynes is 41. David Keith is 72. Grant E. Rosenberg is 46.
May 9: Former city engineering director Jim Hagerman is 70. Mark L. Hill is 73. Bill Weigel is 88. Kyle P. McDonald is 44. Nancy Maland is 75. Randy Lockmiller is 78. Jim Jennings is 84. Richard Norris is 72. Anne Templeton is 47. Steve Richardson is 71. Lonnie Strunk is 86. Former County Commission Chair Hugh Nystrom is 59.
May 10: Trudy Hughes is 66. Fred Marcum is 66.
May 11: Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey is 77. Rebecca Longmire is 80.
May 12: Dick Graf is 91. Mark E. Clark is 51. Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is 46.
May 13: Mark Carson English is 60. Warren Sanger is 61. Robert Durrett is 50. Joan Monaco is 41. Former Chancellor Daryl Fansler is 74. State Rep. Justin Lafferty is 55. Alfred Coyle is 68. Margaret Petrone is 76. Paul Varlan and Morgan Wallen are 33.
May 14: David J. Icove is 77. Louise Owens is 91. Kittrin R. Smith is 55. Anna M. Lee is 42. Dr. Herman Botero is 52. Cortney Piper is 46.
Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News.
Knox News and Shopper News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email [email protected]. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.
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