Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam today announced that he is setting up an operations unit at 5708 Uptain Road in Chattanooga. The site is near the historic Brainerd Mission. Haslam has clearly decided that the only way to stop Chattanooga from surpassing Knoxville as the third largest city in Tennessee is to take over parts of the Scenic City. Experts estimate that by expanding his stronghold from Eastgate westward into Highland Park — hardly Littlefield-friendly turf — Haslam will be able to maintain control over enough of Chattanooga to maintain his city’s third-place ranking.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield has not commented on the apparent territorial incursion, though the two cities’ rivalry has been noted previously.

“I still have Knoxville in my gun sights, so (Knoxville Mayor) Bill Haslam better take notice.” — Ron Littlefield

Tennessee Ticket will follow this developing story and bring you breaking news updates as they happen.

(In all seriousness, the Bill Haslam for Governor campaign is opening a Chattanooga headquarters at noon on Friday, June 18 at the address noted above. Since Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey appeared jointly at Haslam rival U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp’s local office opening, and endorsed Wamp, it is not expected that either will attend the Haslam event.)