local results coming in

2108 EST They've started to post the local results; a few more minutes until we can see what won. Looks like I'm going to have to drill down to precinct level to feel good about the Obama turnout, though.

2140 EST The ballot initiative to reduce the size of Knox County commission (from 19 to 11 members) and force adoption of an anti-nepotism policy looks like it will pass. Early voting built a 9,000-vote majority in support of the measure; but election-day turnout has gone the other way. Interestingly enough, the election-day voters have been slightly more supportive of B.O. than the early crowd (43% vs. 37.5%).

2223 EST The Great Reduction of 2008 has passed! Barely! Wow. By 3000 votes. Maybe we can finally move forward on combining County and City government--so we don't have to pay for a Police Dept AND Sheriffs Dept, for City Fire AND County Fire, City Property Tax AND County Property Tax, etc... Maybe the Library could get some funding if it weren't funded by the County but used mostly by people living within the City.