Bill Knowles received a warm welcome from his new political kin Monday as the County Clerk who's run 10 times as a Democrat crossed party lines to become a Republican.
He made the announcement at the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club meeting.
"It just felt right now to do it," Knowles said, explaining why he changed parties after so many successful runs as a Democrat. "I advertised during my campaign conservative values."
The county clerk serves as secretary to the County Commission, executes many of the state's taxation duties within the county and serves as chairman of the County Records Commission.
Knowles, 76, won re-election in August to his 10th term. He received substantial Republican support as he beat Republican opponent Chester Heathington. It was an achievement in a tough election year for Democrats. Knowles pledged to run the office the same way he has for decades.
Pachyderm Club President Marty Von Schaaf said party members were working "for a while" to persuade Knowles.
"It shows something is on the move in this party," he said.
Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey, a Democrat, said he respects Knowles' decision. He said Knowles always has run the County Clerk's Office in a nonpartisan way.
"He's not the first Democrat to switch over and probably won't be the last," Mackey said. "Occasionally you'll have some Republicans switch over, so I guess it balances out."
Dr. Richard Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said Knowles' political views are more akin to Republican views than that of the Democratic Party. He said he was "not entirely surprised" to hear about the switch.
But the timing of the announcement was cause for speculation, he said. It could be Knowles plans to run again and wants to make the announcement far in advance. Or he could feel an obligation to the Republicans who supported him.
"He may think he owes all those Republicans who came out against his Republican opponent," Wilson said.
Contact Dan Whisenhunt at dwhisenhunt@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6481. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DWhisenhunt.