Council breaks tie vote in former Rep. Tindell’s favor

The Knoxville City Council voted Wednesday to break a tie in recent Council primary election results and declare former state Rep. Harry Tindell winner of a place on the general election ballot, reports the News Sentinel.

In the Aug. 29 city primary, Tindell, who served 22 years as a Democrat representing House District 13, and community activist Amelia Parker both got 488 votes in the Council District 4 contest.

There were five candidates running for the seat and the top two finishers would win nomination. Lauren Rider, a campus librarian for Pellissippi State Community College and a community organizer, received 889 votes and won a nomination outright while Tindell and Parker tied for the second slot.

In the general election, unlike the primary, the entire city will have an opportunity to vote for representatives in all five districts on the ballot.  

“Campaigns are full of surprises and twists and turns and this was one that nobody would have anticipated but me and Amelia both ran a good campaign,” Tindell said after the vote. “This is a stop we had to make, but now it’s time to start the campaign for the general election and start talking to the voters about our message.”

The decision is contingent on the Knox County Election Commission certifying the unofficial results, said City Council Attorney Rob Frost. 

Parker, who started her campaign with $3,000 and filled the room with supporters, said she was undeterred by the results and planned to continue her campaign as a write-in candidate. ..Parker called council’s vote a conflict of interest because she has spoken out critically of members at  past city council meetings.