Continued from previous page
Herrera’s campaign is being run by political conservative consultant Erik Wiatr, who operates Wind Consulting and is being paid $2,500 a month, according to the filing. Herrera, who chaired the Knox County Republican Party for two years, worked with Wiatr to try to elect Republicans to the nonpartisan Knoxville City Council in 2021. None of those candidates were elected, although Wiatr is credited with the election of Republican state Rep. Elaine Davis of the 18th House District in 2022.
Among Herrera’s contributors is lawyer Greg Shanks, who donated $521.16. Shanks’ wife, Cathy Quist Shanks, was defeated in the GOP primary four years ago in the law director’s race by Buuck. Buuck drew nearly 60% of the votes in the primary, and he also beat Democrat Fenner in the general election with 64% of the votes.
Fenner then ran in 2022 for district attorney general, with incumbent Republican Charme Allen winning with 59% of the votes to Fenner’s 41%.
At the forum, Buuck and Fenner generally agreed on the role of the law director’s office in representing all offices of county government and the need to hire lawyers outside the department if for some reason conflicts arise between offices.
They disagreed generally on policy issues. Fenner said he is opposed to school vouchers because he doesn’t consider them constitutional, so he “would think a lot can be done there.” Buuck responded that the voucher issue is in the hands of the state legislature and if a statewide law is passed allowing the program, the county would not have a role.
Buuck was critical of what he described as a “cottage industry of lawyers” who sue the county on civil right issues. “They can win $1 (in court) and get a million in fees,” he said.
He also said that the youngest lawyer in his office has more experience than Herrera, but moderator McBride would not allow him to proceed with his comments since Herrera was not present to respond. In brochures mailed to voters, Buuck said Herrera has had zero experience in the law director’s office and zero experience in government law.
On Herrera’s website, he says he has had over 500 court experiences and is a business owner with employees. He calls himself a “conservative outsider,” referring to previously living in North Carolina and New Jersey.
Buuck said he is not having fundraisers like he did four years ago. “I don’t like the idea of going out and asking people for money,” he said. He said he has received “substantial” contributions since disclosures were released in January.
In a Knoxville Bar Association survey evaluation of the candidates for law director, nearly 55% of those voting recommended Buuck, 9% recommended Herrera and nearly 21% recommended Fenner.
Early voting continues in the Knox County primaries through Feb. 27.
HONORING CARTOONIST AND HIS WIFE: U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett joined in the 70th wedding anniversary celebration of Charlie and Patsy Daniel with comments on the floor of the House last week.
Charlie Daniel spent 60 years as a political cartoonist, including at the News Sentinel.
“Many of his cartoons are hanging on the halls of my Knoxville office, and you can see one of them on the poster behind me,” Burchett said in prepared remarks. Burchett said Daniel is his favorite cartoonist, and “I have been made fun of by people all over the world.” He also said Daniel’s cartoons “were razor sharp while still being respectful.”
The cartoon Burchett had on a poster as he spoke was done in 2012 when Burchett was mayor and proclaimed “Knox County Bigfoot Day,” as part of inviting the casts of Animal Planet’s biggest shows to Knoxville and having a little fun with the mythical character. The Daniels’ wedding anniversary was Feb. 5. HOW THEY VOTED: In a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate on Feb. 9 to advance a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine and Israel, Tennessee’s two Republican senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, voted nay. In another vote on Feb. 13 on aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, Blackburn and Hagerty voted nay. The measure passed the Senate 70-29. The Republican-dominated House takes up the measure next.
Georgiana Vines is retired News Sentinel associate editor. Reach her at gvpolitics@hotmail.com.