Audio clip
Jim Cobb
Audio clip
Jim Vincent
Former state Rep. Jim Vincent said Friday he plans an attempt to retake his old House seat from friend and fellow Republican state Rep. Jim Cobb, of Spring City.
“We made our decision to go ahead and run for District 31,” Mr. Vincent said Friday. “We’re going today to pick up our papers.”
Hamilton County Election Commission officials confirmed Friday Mr. Vincent picked up election papers. He has until noon Thursday to return them and qualify as a Republican for the 31st District, which includes Rhea and northern Hamilton counties.
Mr. Vincent, of Soddy-Daisy, will face Rep. Cobb in the Aug. 7 Republican primary, and the winner could face a Democratic nominee in the Nov. 4 general election.
Mr. Vincent said he conducted a poll of Hamilton and Rhea counties and found conditions favorable for him to run. He declined to share the poll results with the media.
Rep. Cobb, reached by phone Friday, said he has filed papers to seek re-election and welcomed Mr. Vincent to the race. He said he would support the candidate voters elect.
“I will run on my record and remain positive” he said. “I anticipate a clean race, and the people will ultimately decide.”
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said he supported Mr. Vincent’s run and cited a vote last year by Rep. Cobb on the funding formula for the Basic Education Program as the factor. Mr. Ramsey said he was “really disappointed” in Rep. Cobb, who voted against reforms that would have brought millions of dollars in extra funds to Hamilton County.
“I’m sure that will be an issue the voters will have to answer,” Mr. Ramsey said. “As I understand it, both counties would have got additional money. We weren’t taking money from Rhea County.”
Rep. Cobb said he did what he felt was best for both counties he represents.
“I have not had one person in public office, or my constituents, tell me that they would have voted any differently,” he said.
Mr. Vincent said his run for office has been encouraged by public officials. Mr. Vincent works as a real estate developer and has roots in Hamilton and Rhea counties. He first was elected as 31st District state representative in 2000, but decided not to run for re-election in 2004 after a barroom fracas in Nashville.
“I’ve had a lot of friends in Nashville and down here who wanted me to run against” Rep. Cobb, Mr. Vincent said. “I don’t know why.”
Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman John Bailes said he knew of one Democrat interested in the race. He said he hopes a Democrat enters the race because the Republican Party appears split between Hamilton and Rhea counties.
“I think it shows the state caucus is disappointed in Cobb,” Mr. Bailes said. “It’s obvious it’s an opportunity for us.”
Election officials said Friday no Democrat has picked up papers.
Hamilton County Republican Party Chairwoman Connie Weathers declined comment.
Rhea County Republican Chairwoman Phyllis Thum said both men are good candidates, but she has no problems with Rep. Cobb.
“The Rhea County Republican Party has been extremely happy with Jim Cobb,” she said.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
