Hamilton County mayoral hopefuls Jim Coppinger, left, and Mike Carter await their first question at a forum hosted by the Tennessee Valley Republican Women at the Red Bank High School gymnasium Monday night.During a forum Monday night in Red Bank there was agreement -- and mutual admiration -- between the two men battling for the votes of county commissioners to become Hamilton County's next mayor.
But whether their lengthy answers in two hours of public questioning will change commissioners' votes is unclear.
"I thought they both did real well," Commissioner Larry Henry said of the two candidates -- Mike Carter, special assistant to the county mayor, and County Commissioner Jim Coppinger. Henry, along with Chairman Fred Skillern both voted for Coppinger, and neither said they would change their vote.
Commissioner Jim Fields also supported Coppinger but said he would soak in what he'd heard at the forum before deciding whether he would change his vote to Carter.
Dozens of people crowded into the bleachers and sat in chairs at the high school gym for what likely will be the only public forum related to the county mayor's search. Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey will step down Jan. 11 to join Gov.-elect Bill Haslam in Nashville, and commissioners have been deadlocked 4-4 between Carter and Coppinger. Because Coppinger is a candidate, he cannot vote.
Carter and Coppinger spoke at Red Bank High School hosted by the Tennessee Valley Republican Women and moderated by WPLZ-FM radio talk show host Jay "Jammer" Scott.
The forum was an attempt to provide the public access to the candidates, and all the commissioners except Warren Mackey and Greg Beck attended. Mackey, who had earlier proposed his own public hearing for the candidates, said there was no need for him to go.
"The county commission can handle its own business," he said.
Attempts to reach Beck were unsuccessful.
Carter and Coppinger spoke about the ongoing topics in county election cycles -- consolidation and taxes -- and how they could continue to bring business to Hamilton County.
One consistent theme of the forum was not increasing taxes, with both men saying they would not favor a tax increase to shore up the county's budget.
The two candidates were unwilling to prevent another deadlock by withdrawing their candidacy, which means it will ultimately be up to commissioners to fulfill their obligation to pick Ramsey's replacement.
Coppinger said he hopes the County Commission can resolve the issue Wednesday.
"I have every intention of moving forward with the process," he said.
Carter said he wants the County Commission to do its job.
"They're up to the task, they're well-intentioned and honorable men," Carter said. "If I don't get that nod, I'm going to do everything I can to help Mayor Coppinger move this county forward."
The commission will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and plans to vote again on selecting who will replace Ramsey.
Contact staff writer Dan Whisenhunt at dwhisenhunt@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6481. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DWhisenhunt.