This Concludes the Series “Need to Know before the May 5th Primary” And if you haven’t already, please be sure to vote in the May 5th Primary! When Revenue Is Left on the Table When a potential $500,000/year revenue source isn’t adopted, the need doesn’t go away. It usually shows up somewhere else: At the same time: Read More

ALERT: The May 5th primary is early next week, and voters deserve to know who is investing in our next mayor before they cast a ballot. Candidate Randy Bales has said he’s “for the farmers” and wants to protect the rural character of Jefferson County. But campaign finance records show he has received contributions from Read More

A $500,000 DecisionOver the past year, Jefferson County officials made it clear: The county needs more revenue.Property taxes were increased.A wheel tax was added.At the same time, a proposal was introduced: – A $0.20 per ton mineral tax – Estimated to generate about $500,000 per year.  – That’s five MILLION over ten years.For context: – About $4 per truckloadThe Read More

In the Thursday April 30th Standard Banner, a very informative article appeared regarding campaign contributions (link below).  Here is a comparison of Contributions to the Mayoral Race.  Study this before you vote! The TYPE of contributions is quite different for the two candidates.  Some questions for voters to consider: Link to Standard Banner article on Read More

Where Campaign Money Comes FromLooking more closely at the campaign finance reports for Austin Brooks and Randy Bales:Austin Brooks’ funding: Primarily individuals Smaller contributions Mostly local citizensRandy Bales’ funding: Larger individual contributions Business owners Includes a construction-related PACThere’s nothing unusual about any of this.But it does show: These campaigns are supported by different types of networks.And that can matter when Read More

As early voting comes to a close, I reviewed the publicly filed campaign finance reports (link is below)for the two Republican candidates for Jefferson County Mayor:Austin Brooks and Randy Bales.Here’s what those reports show: Austin Brooks raised about $9,000 Randy Bales raised about $26,000That’s not just a difference in dollars.It reflects different types of support: Brooks’ campaign is funded largely by individual Read More

Jefferson County Preservation Society Supports Endorsed Candidates In the April 23rd Standard Banner, a reader wrote in saying folks should “vote for farmers, not candidates endorsed by the Preservation group.” We appreciate anyone who takes the time to speak up, but we’d like to share a little more of the picture. Here in America — and Read More

Title: Why Did These Appear One After the Other? Over the past year, Jefferson County residents have heard two different messages. First, we were told the county needed more revenue. Based on that, property taxes were increased. A wheel tax was added. There was even discussion of whether additional increases might be needed. At the same Read More

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Before You Vote: Follow the Money Campaign Finance Records Show Donation Patterns That Some Voters Believe Deserve Closer Attention Early voting is underway, and many residents are reviewing publicly available campaign finance reports to understand who is funding local candidates. These records show patterns that some voters believe are concerning and deserve closer attention: Candidate Read More

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WHO PAYS FOR GROWTH IN Jefferson County? Recent debates—like the wheel tax—show that even small costs matter locally. A $36 fee may look minor on paper, but in practice it competes with: In this county, household margins are tight. The Issue As Jefferson County grows: The question is not whether revenue is needed. The question Read More

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Jefferson County Is Not Unique—And That Should Concern Us There’s a tendency to talk about Jefferson County as if it were one place. One community. One set of problems. One shared future. It isn’t. Jefferson County is ten districts, multiple towns, and a range of realities that don’t always line up. In one part of Read More

VOTER GUIDE for JEFFERSON COUNTY  An informed voter asks better questions—and expects better answers. WHY ARE YOU RUNNING? WHAT DOES THIS JOB ACTUALLY DO? EXPERIENCE & RESULTS ISSUES THAT MATTER HOW DO YOU MAKE DECISIONS? VOTES & TRADEOFFS MONEY, ROADS & GROWTH LOOKING AHEAD TRANSPARENCY & LEADERSHIP Prepared for community use. Share freely. Read More

Jefferson County’s roads are deteriorating faster than the Highway Department can repair them due to heavy mining trucks, underground mining activity, and years of underfunded maintenance. Property taxpayers currently shoulder nearly all road repair costs. A Mineral Severance Tax — already used by 86% of Tennessee counties with producing mines — would generate $13.6 million Read More

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Civic Action: How Citizens Can Help … JEFFERSON COUNTY IS AT A CRITICAL CROSSROAD — PLEASE WE NEED YOUR HELP A. Contact Your County Commissioner – Ask them to vote YES on the Mineral Severance Tax. B. Share the Facts – Talk with neighbors, family, and friends in Jefferson County. C. Use Your Voice Publicly– Read More

Shifting the Burden: Why Jefferson County Must Choose Foresight Over Hindsight March 16, 2025 By Joe Malgeri, Citizen On Thursday, March 12th, voters in Jefferson County witnessed something rare: a candidate forum that revealed not just policy differences, but a fundamental divide in how two people approach leadership itself. The setting was simple. The moderator Read More

JEFFERSON CITY, Tennessee Jefferson City crews are working to fix a sinkhole that reopened on Odell Ave over the weekend. The sinkhole first opened on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 beside Maplecrest Square apartments, near Food City and Regions Bank. It was originally 20 to 25 feet deep. Car swallowed in one of three sink holes Read More