Leuthold secures bonding for Knox County Trustee’s Office [The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.]

July 26--Newly appointed Knox County Trustee Craig Leuthold secured a bond for his office Thursday, albeit at more than six times the cost of the previous policy.

Leuthold is bonded by The Hanover Insurance Group at a cost of $55,000. The previous policy, issued by The Hartford, had an $8,500 premium.

The $18.5 million insurance policy covers the county on claims of malfeasance or failure to do the job while in office.

Leuthold was chosen by county commissioners in a 6-4 vote Monday. He replaces John J. Duncan III, who resigned earlier this month after pleading guilty to a low-level felony for paying himself and staffers more than $18,000 in unearned bonuses.

Similarly, former Trustee Mike Lowe has been indicted on multiple counts of felony theft of more than $60,000.

Last week, The Hartford refused to issue a bond for the acting trustee, citing Duncan's misdeeds and the allegations against Lowe.

"I had to provide the bonding company with a substantial amount of my own personal financial information," Leuthold said Thursday night. "It helped secure it. But from my understanding that was not a normal request."

Nevertheless, Leuthold said it was a big relief to have the matter settled.

He also named interim officeholder Kristin Phillips as his chief of staff. Leuthold said his next priority is to draft a new organizational staffing chart. The appointee has requested resumes from the office's 37 staffers.

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