It was a mirage, after all. What looked to be an easy slide from the Fourth of July into the start of school and Labor Day, or as easy a transition as we can muster in this time of COVID-19, has come to an abrupt halt.
First, police Chief David Roddy announced his retirement. OK. If 100-plus shootings so far this year haven’t focused new Mayor Tim Kelly’s attention on public safety, the departure of a veteran officer and top cop would.
Now comes the announcement that Dr. Bryan Johnson is leaving his position as superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. News reports say Johnson is hanging around; he’s not leaving the Scenic City. That’s great. He is an asset.
But that leaves Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s leaders facing the same situation: finding the right person to fill the top non-elected posts under their umbrellas.
Granted, neither Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger nor Hamilton County commissioners get to hire Johnson’s successor, but you can bet your CARTA pass and all the free school system lunches you can eat they will have a say.