McGary flirts with party switch

Chattanooga City Councilman Andraé McGary announced last week on his "Live and Local" radio show on Talk Radio 102.3 FM that he is considering becoming a Republican after a lifetime as a Democrat.

After the show, he confirmed that he is weighing a change in political affiliation.

"I think I'm a conservative Democrat or a moderate Republican," he said.

He said his mindset has shifted more to the right of the political spectrum. He paid his own way when he went to a Libertarian conference last week in Grand Rapids, Mich., he said.

McGary said he is starting to think more that private businesses and nonprofit agencies have roles to fill in the community.

"I always said it was government's job to do it," he said. "I'm not so sure anymore."

ENERGY AUDIT COULD SAVE SOME CASH

The City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to hire a contractor to conduct an energy audit of the city buildings.

David Crockett, director of the Office of Sustainability, told council members Knoxville did the same thing and saved $1.3 million.

"I expect we'll have some significant savings," he said.

HDR Inc. will be paid $110,000 to conduct the audit. The money comes from U.S. Department of Energy grants.

Crockett said the audit would take a year.

Councilwoman Pam Ladd said that although the price tag frightened her at first, she saw no reason to vote against the proposal.

"I really think this is a good thing for us," she said. "I think it's a smart thing."

STOP THE BELL RINGING

During the Chattanooga City Council meeting Tuesday night, a bell began to ring, and ring, and ring in the audience.

Suddenly, Councilman Peter Murphy spoke up.

"I thought I was at a production of Tinker Bell," Murphy said. "Whomever is doing it, knock it off."

Dave Crockett, director of the Office of Sustainability, stood up in the audience. At the time, the council was talking about awarding a contract for an energy audit.

"Do you need me to answer a question?" Crockett asked.

"No," Murphy responded. "I need Tinker Bell to knock it off, and if it's you, stop."

It was unclear where the noise was coming from. But it stopped.

A GOOD LISTENER

The Hamilton County Commission on Thursday discussed its ongoing dispute with the Board of Education over who should control money generated from payment in lieu of taxes agreements.

Commissioners want to earmark the money for school construction while school board members want to put it in the schools general fund.

The commissioners said they want a better dialogue with the school board. Commissioner Fred Skillern, whose school board counterpart is Rhonda Thurman, said he and she communicate constantly.

"I talk with my school board member," Skillern said, hesitating. "Well, I listen to my school board member more than three times a week."

Staff writers Cliff Hightower and Dan Whisenhunt contributed to this report.

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