Janis Hashe poses for a portrait in her Chattanooga home in this 2008 file photo.On Dec. 15, the day Ooltewah Democrat Bill Taylor announced his run for Congress, he quickly showed off his accessibility and gave his cellphone number to a few local reporters.
“Call me anytime,” he said.
A week later, in the midst of the payroll tax debate, a public relations firm distributed a prepared statement from the newest 3rd Congressional District candidate. Attached to the statement was a phone number “to schedule an interview with Mr. Taylor.”
The middleman had arrived.
The change came as the Hamilton County Democratic Party hired OpenLines Communication, a move designed to increase party visibility and, according to a separate news release, “[make] clear that we care about people and their quality of life,” party Chairman Paul Smith said.