April 14, 2014 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF AMBER ROUNTREE, LAUREN HOPSON, TREASURER FREE April 14, 2014 FOCUS Sheriff JJ Jones running on Weekly Poll* Do you support experience and accomplishments Governor Haslam’s By David Klein proposal to Running on his experi- create a school ence, Knox County Sher- voucher program riff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones said he was proud of his for students who accomplishments over the attend a failing last four years. Jones was school? appointed sheriff in Janu- ary 2007, and reappointed on February 20, 2008. He YES 56.95% was then elected Sheriff in NO 43.05% a county-wide election on Survey conducted August 7, 2008 for a par- April 10, 2014. tial term and re-elected to * Focus Weekly Polls are conducted a four-year term on August by an independent, professional polling 5, 2010. company. He has increased the number of sheriff depart- ment officers on the street Poll during his tenure and said officer response times have become quicker. Emergen- workers, cy call response times are between 4 to 10.5 minutes Marina, depending on traffic and the time of day and non-emer- Lobbyist, gency response times are PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS. between 15 to 16 minutes, Jones said. “We’re constant- Country music artist Con Hunley, Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “JJ” Jones, and Knoxville Focus publisher Steve Hunley Honors ly analyzing the calls for at last month’s Lincoln Day Dinner. By Mike Steely service and the response [email protected] times for service,” he said. because it changes on a kids at safe at school. “I was a sheriff’s officer, a Knox- area and has a Master’s “That’s how we determine daily, weekly, and monthly an advocate to have an offi- ville police department offi- Degree in Criminal Justice Primary election how many officers are on basis.” cer in every school,” Jones cer, or a security officer.” from the University of Ten- works may get a pay the street. We have to Another issue of impor- said. “There are officers in Jones is in his 34th year nessee. He has done just bump. County Election continuously analyze that tance to Jones is keeping every school, whether it be of service in the Knoxville Continue on page 4 Administrator Clifford Rodgers’ request two weeks ago for a pay raise for election work- ers seemingly did not fall on deaf ears as Com- Hunnicutt Running On Qualifications missioner Mike Ham- mond told The Focus By David Klein he will ask for $6,675 criminal court clerk’s office sessions court clerk, fourth Hunnicutt talked about antiquated,” he said. “In in additional funding for Jason L. Hunnicutt, Assis- on a daily basis, he said he circuit court clerk, and the the need for technology in 1997, they created the primary election work- tant Knox County District is familiar with their com- criminal court clerk. Hunn- the office to improve. He Justice Information Man- ers in the county com- Attorney General, is run- puter system and how it icutt said he knows about mentioned a system called agement System (JIMS). mission’s work ses- ning for Knox County Crim- operates. the system from the out- FoxPro that only clerks use “That’s where they keep all sion next Monday. The inal Court Clerk. As some- The criminal court clerk’s side in and about cracks in to input costs, fines, and the cases,” Hunnicutt said. commission meets at 2 one who interacts with the office makes up the general the system. financial matters. “It’s very “If you’re charged, you go p.m. April 21 in the Main into the JIMS system. It’s a Assembly Room of the system that defense law- City-County Building. yers have access to and The commission will judges as well as court also discuss a sublease clerks. Those two systems agreement at Concord were not integrated,” he Marina for construction said. “It’s frustrating to and operation of a res- be in court and look at the taurant. Adding an addi- JIM screen, and I can’t tell tional 20 years to the if the defendant has paid lease there for Concord the fine or their cost or any- Marina of Knoxville, LLC, thing else.” will also be discussed “There’s been some on a motion of Chair- issues with people losing man Brad Anders. their licenses because Commissioner Amy costs supposedly haven’t Broyles is asking the been paid,” Hunnicutt said, commission to consider referring to mismanage- hiring a lobbyist in Nash- ment of records occurring ville “to keep the Com- in the criminal court clerk’s mission up-to-date and office. Records have shown informed about devel- that workers occasionally opments affecting edu- entered the wrong infor- cation and county gov- mation into the system, ernment.” lost paperwork and gave The body will also con- defendants, prosecutors, sider changes to its oper- and authorities incorrect ating rules, hear sever- information. The errors led al zoning requests, and PHOTO BY DAN ANDREWS. to several wrongful arrests, consider selling the his- improperly revoked driver’s toric Katie Miller House Criminal Court Clerk candidate Jason Hunnicutt, right, with Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols at a recent reception for Hunnicutt. Cont. on page 2 Continue on page 4 PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus April 14, 2014 Focus on the Law FOCUS Servicemembers Civil Weekly Poll Superintendent Angling For Defacto Tax Hike Do you support Governor Haslam’s Relief Act proposal to create a school voucher Replacing pre- and his or her for the purchase of real or to a written agreement of vious federal law d e p e n d e n t s personal property prior to the parties executed during program for students who attend known as the Sol- occupy a rental entry into active duty are or after the servicemem- diers’ and Sail- house or apart- protected under the Act if ber’s period of military ser- a failing school? ors’ Civil Relief ment and the rent the servicemember’s abil- vice. Act, the Service- does not exceed ity to make the installment A final major protection members Civil $2975.54 (as of payments is materially of SCRA is protection from Relief Act (SCRA) 2011 and adjust- affected by the military ser- losing life or health insur- By Sharon YES 56.95% primarily expands Frankenberg, ed for inflation) vice. In those circumstanc- ance that was in effect p r o t e c t i o n s Attorney at Law per month, the es, foreclosure and repos- on the day before the ser- NO 43.05% for active duty landlord must session are prohibited with- vicemember is called into members of the obtain a court out a court order. active duty military ser- By Age Support Oppose Total armed forces. Found in order authorizing evic- The amount of interest vice, deployment or over- 30-49 55.56% 44.44% 27 the Appendix of Title 50 tion. This is true regard- that may be charged on seas tours of duty. A ser- 50-65 56.94% 43.06% 72 of the United States Code, less of whether the prop- debts of servicemembers vicemember is entitled to Sections 501-596, the law erty was rented before or is limited to 6 percent while reinstatement of any health 65+ 57.26% 42.74% 124 protects members of the after entry into the military on active duty. The inter- insurance in effect on the Total 56.95% (127) 43.05% (96) 223 uniformed services (Army, service. The court is per- est in excess of 6 percent day before he or she was Navy, Air Force, Marine mitted to grant a stay of up may not become due once called into active duty and Corps or Coast Guard) who to three months or enter the servicemember leaves was terminated during the By District are on active duty; mem- any other “order as may be active duty and is perma- period of such service. 1 52.63% 47.37% 19 bers of the National Guard just” if service in the mili- nently forgiven. In addi- Servicemembers’ private 2 51.61% 48.39% 31 who under a call to active tary materially affects the tion, the monthly payment life insurance is protect- 3 73.91% 26.09% 23 service for a period of more servicemember’s ability to on credit obligations must ed against lapse, termina- 4 59.09% 40.91% 44 than 30 consecutive days; pay the rent. be reduced by the amount tion, and forfeiture for non- and members who are A person holding a lien of interest saved during the payment of premiums or 5 36.36% 63.64% 11 commissioned officers of on the personal property covered period. indebtedness for the period 6 61.11% 38.89% 18 the Public Health Service or or effects of a servicemem- A servicemember may of military service plus two 7 57.14% 42.86% 21 the National Oceanic and ber may not foreclose or waive his or her rights and years. The insured or ben- 8 45.45% 54.55% 22 Atmospheric Administra- enforce such a lien during protections under SCRA in eficiary must apply to the 9 61.76% 38.24% 34 tion on active service. The any period of military ser- writing. The written agree- Veteran’s Administration for protection generally ends vice of the servicemember ment must be a document this particular protection. Total 56.95% (127) 43.05% (96) 223 within 30 to 90 days of dis- and for 90 days thereaf- separate from the legal By Gender charge from active duty.