Former Republican leaders endorse Joe Smith for District 3 commission seat

Joe Smith, right, applies for candidacy at the Hamilton County Elections Office.
Joe Smith, right, applies for candidacy at the Hamilton County Elections Office.

Three former elected Hamilton County leaders, including former Mayor and Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey, have endorsed Joe Smith, the independent candidate seeking the County Commission District 3 seat.

photo Greg Martin speaks at a Hamilton County Board of Education meeting.

Smith faces Republican Greg Martin, the current school representative for the district, which includes Hixson, Middle Valley, Lakesite and Big Ridge. The seat has been vacant since Sept. 1, when Commissioner Marty Haynes took on his new role as the Hamilton County Assessor of Property.

"He is a conservative, honest and caring person," Ramsey said in a released statement. "Few people I know have given as much service to the citizens of Hamilton County as Joe and he deserves the opportunity to serve the people of District 3."

Former Congressman Zach Wamp and State Representative Richard Floyd also praised Smith in the announcement.

"As a former Big Ridge resident, he has my wholehearted support and he has been a dedicated, committed member of the Republican Party," Wamp said.

Both cited Smith's long service as the regional executive director of Y-Cap, a YMCA intervention program targeting adolescent students, as evidence of his dedication to the community.

Smith said he has voted as a Republican all his life when he announced his intention to make an independent bid for the open seat.

"A community that has given me so much, it would be an honor to continue to give back to it," Smith said in the announcement.

Martin said in phone call he respected the former leaders, but the reality is that none of them live or vote in District 3.

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

Martin cited the support of several Republican elected officials, including Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson), Rep. Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah), Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga), City Councilman Ken Smith, Haynes and others.

District 3 voters will decide the contest for the commission seat on Nov. 8. The winner will serve the remaining two years of Haynes' term.

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

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