J.B. Bennett on Monday became the second local this month to say he's not running for Congress.
"I very much appreciate all of the kind words of encouragement and tremendous support from so many people I greatly respect," he wrote in an emailed statement. "I am not ruling out running for public office in the future."
The announcement sounded familiar. Two weeks ago, Robin Smith, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann's top Republican rival from a year ago, went on the radio to say she would not challenge the congressman to a rematch.
A Chattanooga attorney and lobbyist, Bennett recently sent a letter to about 100 friends that said he was exploring a run against Fleischmann in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District. Bennett later told the Chattanooga Times Free Press he was "not satisfied" with Fleischmann's leadership, but he declined to specify his grievances.
The son of Hamilton County Property Assessor Bill Bennett, J.B. Bennett said he "will think about" making an endorsement, but his statement made no mention of Fleischmann or any of his challengers.
Two Republicans, political science professor Jean Howard-Hill and Weston Wamp, the 24-year-old son of former Rep. Zach Wamp, have mounted primary challenges against Fleischmann. No Democrat has announced.
Donor fatigue may have played a role in Bennett's decision to sit out this race.
According to the latest financial reports, Fleischmann already has $352,000 on hand, not including about $200,000 his aides say he raised at a Chattanooga fundraiser featuring House Speaker John Boehner.
Financial information for Howard-Hill and Wamp won't be available until next year, but Wamp has said he raised $250,000 at a fundraiser last week.
Contact staff writer Chris Carroll at ccarroll@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6610.
Chris Carroll covers politics for the Times Free Press. A Chattanooga native, he graduated from Red Bank High School in 2005 and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University in 2009. Chris has investigated violent crime, hospitals, Red Bank politics and East Ridge politics since joining the newspaper in January 2010. For a jailhouse interview story with accused murderer Antonio Henry, he won a third place Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors ...
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Shucks. We're not going to get another man who has access to the ballot because of his family's name. Politics in Chattanooga is obviously a family business. Just in keeping with the Knowles, the Turners, etc. I'm just glad my sons are making it on their own & not trying to get on the government payroll.
Wow I bet chuck and weston are relieved. J.B. Bennett would have been a formidable candidate.
in a democratic primary...
if his parents had put in all the money...
I think he likes seeing his name in the paper.
One of the greatest families in the political machinery of Tennessee is the Bennett family. I'm sorry for any negative comments here about them. One of the first people Ron Bhalla proudly introduced me to was J.B.'s Dad, Bill Bennett. Also, Ron, as one of our Tennessee 3rd District Congressional Candidates, went to Bill Bennett for counsel about his candidacy decision. That's a vote of confidence!
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