Independent candidate calls Republican caucus unfair to District 3

Joe Smith

Greg Martin

Joe Smith, the independent candidate for the vacant Hamilton County Commission District 3 seat, says the Republican caucus is unfair to the district's residents.

Smith is competing against Republican Greg Martin, now the District 3 school board representative, to fill the seat vacated when Marty Haynes was elected Hamilton County Assessor of Property. The winner will represent Hixson, Lakesite, Middle Valley and Big Ridge for the remaining two years of Haynes' term.

Smith, who said he has voted Republican all his life, cited the Republican caucus' makeup as a driving factor behind his run. He said he's concerned over how many delegates are married couples, which he said reduces the number of households making decisions for the district's Republicans.

"I felt it wasn't fair for the residents of District 3 for 10 households to decide who would be the Republican nominee," Smith said, alleging 20 out of 28 delegates were married couples. "I understand how that happens. No one volunteers to be a part of the caucus."

Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Tony Sanders called Smith's assessment "a very gross miscalculation." He said 33 delegates in 20 households participated in the Sept. 8 caucus that nominated Martin. He said it is not uncommon for married couples to serve as delegates.

"Joe may not like the process and he may not win with the process, but it has been the process since 2012," Sanders said.

The Hamilton County Republican Party's bylaws, in line with state GOP rules, call for holding a convention to elect precinct delegates and party officers in every odd-numbered year, he said.

The number of delegates is determined by a formula based on the number of Republicans who voted in the precinct in the last presidential election.

Any Republican resident who is registered to vote and lives in the precinct can vote at the caucus and is eligible to be elected a delegate.

Sanders said party officials want people who are active with the party, handling its day-to-day business, to handle caucus decisions.

Sanders recommended Smith "get involved with the party."

Martin made similar comments, asserting the delegate rules are "not new or unfair."

Smith, the long-time regional director of Y-Cap, a YMCA intervention program targeting adolescent students, said he doesn't understand the need for partisan politics at the local level and has taken the same advice he has given to kids he has mentored.

"I tell them not to be part of any clubs," Smith said. "Serve and do what's right."

Three former local Republican leaders have endorsed Smith, including former county mayor and deputy governor Claude Ramsey, former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp and former state Rep. Richard Floyd.

Martin has said he respects the former leaders, but pointed out none of them live or vote in District 3. He said he's supported by current elected officials such as Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson; Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah; Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga; Chattanooga City Councilman Ken Smith; Haynes and others.

"I'll take the people who are active in Hixson over the retired people who live outside Hixson any day," he said.

Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@times freepress.com. Follow on Twitter @pleach_tfp.