Several Knox County trustees have run into ethical difficulties over the last 25 years. (Photo of Old Knox County Courthouse: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

At a recent Knoxville Smokies baseball game, I had a brief but nice chat with Ed Shouse, former Knoxville City Council member, former Knox County Commissioner, and former Knox County Trustee. I congratulated him on being one of the few recent trustees not facing scandal. He chuckled, shook his head, and said, “You’ve just got to remember it’s not your money.”

It is sage advice for anyone doing public service, especially in the trustee office, established in Knox County’s charter for collecting property taxes, disbursing and accounting for county funds and investing money quickly and wisely to earn interest and profits for the coun

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