Andrea Kline selected as Knox County General Sessions Judge
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
Three people appeared before a special hearing of the Knox County Commission last week, each wanting to replace the retiring Judge Andrew Jackson VI. Two assistant district attorneys, Kevin Teeters and Andrea Kline, and Rhonda Lee, an attorney and District 7 commissioner, spoke and answered questions at last week’s Knox County Commission special session, but, in the end, the commission voted overwhelmingly for Andrea Kline.
Kline got eight votes and Lee received two votes from the 11-member commission; Commissioner Lee abstained from voting.
Supporters of Kline included Commissioners Damon Rawls, Courtney Durrett, Gina Oster, Shane Jackson, Adam Thompson, Larsen Jay, Kim Frazier and Terry Hill. Lee’s support in the 8-2-1 vote came from Angela Russell and Andy Fox. Teeter was nominated by Jay but received no votes in the final round.
Several commissioners asked questions, the most notable coming from Fox, who asked each of the candidates if they plan to run for the judgeship in next year’s elections.
Kline and Teeters said they would, if selected to complete Jackson’s term. Lee said she plans to run and will give up her commission seat to do so.
All three of the attorneys spoke of their qualifications, with Kline telling of her involvement in the creation of the Vulnerable Adult Prosecution and Investigation Team in Knox County, the first in the state. She said she will be “prepared on day one” and explained her priorities as “faith, family and service.”
