EXPLANATION:

The County of Sevier has five political subdivisions, or local governments:
... One county government:
...... Sevier County; and

... Four municipal governments:
...... Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville.

The organization of a local government is patterned after federal and state governments, with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The legislative branch (body) of a local government may be called by such name as "commission" or "council." Federal and state governments properly leave much of the day-to-day operation of services and establishment of local use options to local governments. Local governments are closest to the governed-- the citizens of that political division-- and should be most acquainted with and responsive to the needs of the people.

When a local government needs a law or other legislative action beyond the scope of its authority, that local government may-- and should-- petition its representatives in Nashville or Washington for assistance.

Representatives Montgomery and/or McCord and I are the only representatives local Sevier County governments have in the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville (the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively). It is our responsibility to introduce and defend any resolution sent to us by a local governmental legislative body. We may not necessarily agree with the resolution, but we must represent the request of any local government.

I require that the resolution be submitted in written form, after at least a two-thirds majority vote in a public meeting of the local legislative body.

I post any such request on this Web page to fulfill two features of government, which are very important to me: process (proper application of legislative procedures) and transparency (complete openness to the public in a timely manner of all legislative actions).