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Randy Tyree (top center) with his family

Randy Tyree
588-9434

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1.  Law Enforcement was my first career love. I spent ten years working with police agencies with federal, state and local units of government, serving in Washington, D.C.; San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nashville and Knoxville, prior to being elected Mayor of Knoxville. As Sheriff, I will be returning to my roots by serving in a position combining the best of two worlds - law enforcement and politics, two passions I have held all of my adult life.
   
   
   
2. As a community, we believe the two most important services Knox County government provides to its citizens are public education and public safety and security. These priorities are reflected in Knox County's budget with over 60% of the budget in 2005-2006 being committed to these two important services. Over the years, our professional educators, with the support of the Knox County School Board, County Commission, strong leadership from elected administrators such as County Executive Dwight Kessel, Tommy Schumbert, and Mayor Mike Ragsdale, have made substantial progress and the Knox County School System has progressed successfully in the 21st Century.
   
   Over the same period, we have seen the Knox County Sheriff's operational budget more than double, increasing from $24 million in 1994-1995 to $50 million in 2005-2006, with many expenditures reflecting "wants" of the Hutchison Administration and not "needs" of the Sheriff's Department. It is significant that while the Hutchison Administration doubled its budget during this period, the school budget increased by only nineteen (19) percent. Also, the school system's percentage of the total budget decreased by six (6) percent while the Sheriff's Department's increased by over two (2) percent. And to rub salt in our wounds over the years, we have been fed a regular diet of legal wrangling, lawsuits, conflicts of interest, controversy, and more lawsuits, all to the detriment of the general public and at the expense of the Knox County taxpayers.
   
   
   
3. I believe the Knox County Sheriff's Department, as an organization, is a diamond in the rough. There are over 1,000 dedicated employees, men and women who get up every day, go to work, perform their sworn duty, always with the hope that they will return safely to their families at the end of their shifts. These men and women will be the foundation upon which we will build a stronger, better managed, and a more professional Sheriff's Department. They, our community, and the Knox County taxpayers expect and deserve no less.
   
   We all know that on September 11, 2001, the world changed. As a result, the police and firefighters, our First Responders, now have another level of risk and responsibility as we are challenged to fight the war on terror on our home front. If I become Sheriff, I will dedicate my administration to partner with and support these men and women who so diligently and bravely serve our community.
   
   Personally, my emotions are mixed regarding the Tennessee Supreme Court decision. As a citizen, I appreciate the years of dedicated service provided by the four constitutional officers and the eight members of Knox County Commission. Being of the populist persuasion, however, I also have a deep appreciation for seeing the intent and the will of the people upheld as expressed in the term limit election in 1994 decision regarding term limits.