Friday Recap for March 14, 2025
Setting the record straight part 3
Last week I announced that the 2025 Williamson County Republican Party reorganization was over. Apparently, that was a premature announcement. Since then, the WCC slate has filed a complaint with the state GOP. There are a number of supposed irregularities that make little or no sense, and I am going to focus on just one, which is the accusation that there was no chain of custody for the election ballots.
To be clear, the actual voting was done by the Williamson County Election Commission. During the voting, both Jonathon Duda who is chairman of the commission, and Chad Gray, director of Williamson County elections, as well as commission member Donna Choate were in the room and were actually conducting the voting process.
Also in the room during the vote was Scott Golden, the Tennessee State Republican Party Chairman. He is the highest authority of our state Republican Party. If anybody knows how to run a convention, it is he. Debbie Deaver, the Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee, consulted with him regularly from the very start, including right up to March 4th.
One of the accusations from the WCC is about the chain of custody of the ballots. I have a news flash for the WCC. Jonathon Duda was responsible for the handling of the ballots, and they were properly placed in sealed envelopes at the conclusion of the election to be sent to the state GOP. So, if there is a question of improper chain of custody, then the Election Commission and Scott Golden have to have taken part in it. Does the WCC really believe this?
Part of the chain of custody accusation is the fact the 137 ballots got "spoiled" because the participants did not follow directions. The ballots had oval circles next to each candidate that needed to be fully filled in so that the voting machines could read them. 137 people didn't follow the instructions and the machines rejected their ballots.
Every "spoiled" ballot was replaced by the Election Commission (not the credentials committee) with a new ballot so no one was denied their vote. The "spoiled" ballots were kept apart and placed in a separate envelope to be sent to the state GOP.
After the voting and the recount were over, the good ballots were placed in one envelope and the "spoiled" ballots in a separate envelope. There were, however, still a number of unused ballots left over. The credential committee and the Election Commission personnel had to decide what to do with them. The first thought was to just throw them away, at which point, a concerned, credential committee member said that maybe they should burn them. My understanding is that they finally decided to just throw them away since the voting was over and there was no way the ballots could be included in the just finished election.
I have shared just one fallacious accusation. We will know the truth in a few weeks. As I understand it, the WCC has 10 days to present their challenges and the WCRP has seven days to respond and the clock started on the 10th, which takes us to the 25th.
The WCC has been relentless in their vilification of the WCRP and the Elevate Slate. Right from the start, it has been nothing more than the politics of personal destruction. Is this what we want for Williamson County?
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Williamson County School District
There were no meetings this week.
Next Week:
The school board will meet on Monday the 17th agenda at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium in the County Building at 1320 W. Main in Franklin. Video starts at 6:30 p.m. and can be viewed online then or anytime after at WCS scroll down to board meeting livestream.
There are a number of agenda items, but the two that stick out to me are the 25-26 budget, which 6.b. on the agenda, and the library policy, which is 6.c.ll. If you want to speak on any issue, you have to do the following:
If you’d like to speak during public comment, please send your name, complete mailing address, topic of comments and any organization you represent to publiccomment@wcs.edu. You may sign up for public comment for the next meeting between Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 12 p.m. through Monday, March 17, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Williamson County Commission
The full County Commission met on Monday agenda/packet, video
There were three public comments that started at 12:23:
- Kathy Marlin on the proposed outlet mall in Thompson Station
- Dennis Gross on flooding on Warren Hollow Rd.
- Manju Carol on the dangers of fluoride in our water system
There were four proclamations that started at 17:57:
- 25 anniversary of the Davis House
- April is child abuse prevention month
- Donate for life month
- Recognition of Vietnam veterans
There was a presentation by Maureen Thornton, president an CEO of Visit Franklin, which is the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the entire county. Her presentation starts at 31:05.
There was a presentation from Cathy Montgomery, County Health Director who introduced state dental director Crystal Manners, who gave a presentation on fluoride in our water and it starts at 50:20.
Sheriff Hughes presented his newly formed command staff. video starts at 57:44
Next, the commission got into the list of resolutions to vote on for the night.
First up was resolution 3-25-14 in support of SB1141/HB897 and it was voted down 7 for 5 against and 7 abstained. You can watch the discussion starting at 1:13:27. If you want more information about the harmful effects of fluoride, go to The Fluoride Action Network. It is a great site on this subject.
The only other resolution that generated any discussion was resolution 3-25-10, discussion starts at 1:46:30. I expressed concerns about the $1,000,000 match that will come out of our budget and indicated that I would vote no. After comments by Gordon Hampton, director of Parks and Recreation, I changed my vote to yes. Feel free to contact me on any of my votes and I will be happy to hear your thoughts and explain my reasoning.
Commission votes is a new addition to the recap. It is provided by Jeff Whidby, county clerk and it includes every vote so you can see we all voted.
Next week:
The Human Resources Committee is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the executive conference room at the County Building, 1320 W. Main, Franklin
The Public Health committee is meeting on Tuesday announcement at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the County Building at 1320 W. Main St. Franklin I have no further information, which is a continual frustration.
The Law enforcement and Public Safety Committee will meet on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the executive conference room at the County Building, 1320 W. Main, Franklin. Committee members will meet to review the 2025-26 Sheriff’s Office, Traffic Control, Jail/Corrections, Workhouse/Litter Crew, and Drug Fund proposed budgets and to review and discuss any additional business that comes before the Committee at that time. As of now, I don't have any specific information about any of the topics. Below are below.
The Purchasing and Insurance Committee will meet on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the executive conference room at the County Building, 1320 W. Main, Franklin. I have no more information.
The Planning Commission will be meeting on Thursday packet at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Auditorium of the Williamson County Building at 1320 W. Main St. Franklin.
Board of Mayor and Aldermen
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen met for their work session on Tuesday agenda, video
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meet for their full board meeting on Tuesday agenda, video
Go here to see what other meetings were held this past week and what is coming next week.
Williamson County Election Commission
There were not meetings this week and none scheduled for next week.
If not me, who?
If not now, when?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)
“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1st Corinthians 4:12-13)
Blessings,
Bill
Community resources
If you like Friday Recap, check out these other grassroots conservative projects!
- Williamson County Citizens is a volunteer network of local voters that elect grassroots conservatives to public office.
- TruthWire News covers a broad spectrum of political and governmental issues, from the actions of your local school board and county commissioners to the machinations of city councils and state government officials.
- Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity is helping restore confidence in Tennessee Elections.
- Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
- Mom's For Liberty Williamson County is dedicated to fighting for the American family by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
- Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
- M4LU is a new site developed by the national Mom's for Liberty but generated right here in Williamson County. The mission of M4LU is to to inform, equip, and empower parents with knowledge, understanding and practical tools.
- WCSB Substack. This site reports on the Williamson County School Board meetings. It provides accurate summaries of all WCSB meetings.
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