For those who have observed the political career of Curtis Adams spanning more than two decades, he always has been flexible.
He has been a Democratic and a Republican member of the Hamilton County Commission.
He supported tax increases for education and opposed them as well.
But when he read that Georgia was interested in annexing East Ridge, part of Bradley County and a parcel of land in North Carolina, the ever-industrious Mr. Adams went to work.
He scoured the election laws in Georgia to determine the residency requirements to be a commissioner. Knowing that citizens in his former state of Tennessee wrestled with residency as it related to a member of the Chattanooga City Council, he wanted to be sure he was in compliance. No need to call in City Attorney Randy Nelson for legal advice; he would grandfather himself into Georgia.
He realized that for all the brickbats he received over the years for either supporting or opposing tax increases in Hamilton County, he would have to explain to his longtime constituents (now Georgia residents) that in addition to a lowered sales tax rate, they inherited a state income tax. For Mr. Adams, politics is the art of tradeoffs.
How would he explain to the anti-tax stalwarts who make up his political party that he represents a district with an income tax? Some may believe that the whole Georgia water issue was nothing more than a sly attempt by pro-income-tax proponents in Tennessee to send a part of the state to Georgia, impose the tax, give the land back and have an income tax toehold. Those tax zealots are a crafty lot, or so say some who keep trying to use the issue against Gov. Phil Bredesen, who repeatedly disavows any inkling in that direction.
This scenario is about as believable as the singing of “This Land is Your Land” on the floor of the Georgia Senate as a resolution to move a boundary line 1.1 miles north into Tennessee was unanimously embraced.
Georgia has a history of boundary and water creep.
In the early 1990s it was in a boundary squabble with South Carolina.
For 18 years, Florida and Alabama have waged a verbal and legal battle with Georgia and the Corps of Engineers over an attempt by the Peach State to restrict water flow to its two neighboring states. The courts once again stepped in, turning down a Georgia plan.
The catalyst for this good-neighbor policy that now joins Tennessee in the fold is the unplanned, uncontrolled growth of Atlanta.
Instead of redrawing state boundaries and cutting off water for adjoining states, perhaps Georgia officials should put a moratorium on additional building, occupation and commerce in Atlanta. Send ’em packing.
There would be no need for a maglev train (sorry, Mayor Littlefield). Blood pressures would be reduced as air travelers would no longer be forced to go through Atlanta to get anywhere. Water would be saved and boundaries preserved, but the income tax ploy would die.
Curtis Adams said this may be a fun thing for Georgia politicians, but he is not having fun yet.
“I wouldn’t like being part of Georgia, but they do have a lottery with a large jackpot,” he said.
Georgia even lost the jackpot two weeks ago, so take that off Mr. Adams’ list of positives.
