This page shows the candidates in the 2010 election for the Hamilton County government.
County Commission District 2
David W. Cantrell
- Party: Independent
- Bio: Airline pilot
- Website: http://www.davidcantrell.org/
- Social media: Facebook
Jim Fields
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Attorney
- Website: http://www.electjimfields.com/
- Social media: Facebook
County Commission District 6
John Brooks – incumbent since 2006
- Party: Democrat
- Bio: Attorney
Joseph P. (Joe) Graham
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Printing business
County Commission District 8
Tim Boyd
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Small business owner
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Website: http://timforcommissioner.com/
- Facebook: Facebook page
- Twitter: @TimBoyd_TN
Kenny Smith – Current Hamilton County School Board Chairman
- Party: Democrat
- Bio: Electrician Apprentice Training Director
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Key issues: Education, Job creation
- News: “Union donation stirs campaign curiosity“
- Website: http://votekennysmith.com/
Terry Turner
- Party: Independent
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Quote: “[Atlanta residents] told me [consolidating city and county police departments] was one of the worst decisions they’ve ever made.”
Jim Winters
- Party: Independent
- Bio: Former detective, Business owner
- Quote: “It seems like the parties are more interested in having somebody in office that will cater to their needs, instead of the people.”
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Website: http://www.electjimwinters.com/
- Facebook: Facebook page
School Board District 3
Everett Fairchild – Incumbent, since 1998
- Profile: See Chattarati.com
- News: Says he will push to have Superintendent Jim Scales removed from office
W. Marty Haynes
- Bio: Industrial sales, Hixson Kiwanis Club, Hixson High PTA
- Key issue: Establish online check register to assist public with school finance transparency
- Website: http://www.martyhaynes.com/
Ken Smith – Not to be confused with Kenny Smith, who is currently on the school board, but is leaving to run for county commission in District 8.
- Bio: Small business owner, public school parent and spouse
- Key issue: Refocus on student achievement
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Website: http://electkensmith.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Ken-Smith/273489328314
Tony Westendorf
School Board District 6
Joe Galloway
- Bio: Retired educator and athletic coach
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Quote: “There is too much testing. Students should be graded more on effort.”
Gary Patterson
- Bio: Heavy equipment mechanic
- Key issue: Providing more books and supplies to classrooms
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
School Board District 8
Dean Arnold
- Bio: Author
- Quote: “[I]t’s time to start thinking with vision and the future, and someone like Peyton Manning needs to be throwing long passes to get us where we need to go.”
- Website: http://web.me.com/deanarnold/Deanofschools/Home_Page/Home_Page.html
- Twitter: @DeanChatt
Andrew C. Mullins – goes by Andy Mullins
- Bio: Insurance agent, former police officer
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Key issue: School safety
- Facebook: Facebook page
David Testerman
- Bio: Retired educator
- Key issues: Hiring a local superintendent, greater community involvement in schools
School Board District 9
Marchetta Cannon
- Bio: Retired medical assistant
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Key issue: Simplifying process for parents to address the school board at meetings
Michael Evatt – goes by Mike Evatt
- Bio: Retired Hamilton County Schools building and grounds manager, Contractor
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Quote: “I’ll be able to sit in the chair that first night and go straight to work. I have knowledge of how the system works.”
- Website: http://www.evatt4schools.com/
- Facebook: Facebook page
Karen Farrow
- Bio: Police officer
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Website: http://karenfarrow.org/index.html
Caleb Long
- Bio: Electrical construction, sales manager
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Quote: “Research shows we’ll transfer back to a more manufacturing economy. So are we preparing our students to not only have that knowledge base but also the technical skills?”
- Website: http://www.voteforcaleblong.com/index.shtml
- Facebook: Facebook page
Gary Potter
- Bio: Vocational instructor
- Profile: See Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Key issue: Fairness to teachers
Timothy T. Stephenson
- Bio: Professional clown, Service technician
- Website: http://www.timforboard9.com/
- Facebook: Facebook page
County Mayor
Richard D. Ford
- Party: Independent
Claude Ramsey – incumbent since 1994
- Party: Republican
- Political experience: Hamilton County Commissioner; Tennessee House of Representatives; Assessor of Property, 1980-1994
- Key issue: Economic development
- News: “Tax organizations criticize county mayor office upgrade“
County Clerk
R. Chester Heathington Jr.
- Party: Republican
- News: “Group Of Republicans Say They Favor Democrat Knowles Over Heathington“
W.F. (Bill) Knowles – incumbent since 1974
- Party: Democrat
- Key issue: Easy interaction with county licensing office
- News: “Heathington Says Knowles Paying ‘Outrageous’ Salaries To Family, Others; Knowles Says Charges ‘Inflammatory’“
- Website: http://www.electknowles.com/
Register of Deeds
Jeff Brown
- Party: Democrat
- Political experience: Hamilton County Democratic Party chair, 2009-present
- Key issue: Fiscal responsibility
- Website: http://www.registerbrown.com/
- Social media: Twitter
Pam Hurst – incumbent since 1994
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Real Estate Title Examiner
- Website: http://www.pamhurstregister.com/
- Social media: Facebook
Sheriff
Lloyd Clendenen
- Party: Democrat
- Key issue: Eradicating drugs in schools
- Social media: Facebook
Jim Hammond – incumbent since 2008
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Law enforcement, Security
- News: “Hamilton County: Sheriff acknowledges invitation mistake“
Juvenile Court Clerk
Gary Behler
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Operations director, First Things First; Former prison warden
- Key issues: Fiscal responsibility, Office efficiency
- Website: http://electgarybehler.com/blog/about
- Social media: Facebook
Ron Swafford – incumbent since 1998
- Party: Democrat
- Bio: Family counselor
- Political experience: Chattanooga City Council, 1993-1998
- Website: http://www.reelectronswafford.com/
Chancery Court Judge
Jeff Atherton
- Party: Republican
- Bio: Attorney
- Website: http://www.electatherton.com/
- Social media: Facebook
Valerie Epstein
- Party: Democrat
- Bio: Attorney
- Website: http://www.voteepstein.com/
- Social media: Facebook
Art Grisham
- Party: Independent
- Bio: Attorney
- Social media: Facebook
Richard Ford is not a career politician, which is a good thing in my book. A direct quote from his Facebook Profile reads as follows:
“I am for the working man. If elected, I will represent ALL areas of Hamilton County instead of the chosen few. I want to enact the property tax freeze for elderly people on a fixed income that was voted on by the people in 2006, but still hasn’t been implemented. I also wish to work on improving the county’s recycling system, making it easier for *everyone* to recycle. Another thing is that I want to work with communities about the gang problem. I wish to hold open discussions where everyone is welcome to discuss issues and concerns. I am against a metro government unless it is voted in by the residents of the ENTIRE county. I want to help preserve the history of Hamilton County by protecting cemeteries and such, instead of allowing them to be destroyed by the highest bidder. I’m running as an Independent because I am just that. No amount of money can buy me, and if elected I will donate AT LEAST half of my salary back to charities. If you want someone who will make a difference in Hamilton County, Vote for me on August 5, 2010!”