Hamilton County Commissioner John Allen Brooks said he wants a second term because he wants to make sure the county gets the education funding it is due and to build up the county’s infrastructure.
Mr. Brooks, a Democrat in the District 6 seat, spoke to the Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial Board on Friday. He said he ran in 2006 because he felt the county was not getting its fair share of money from the state’s Basic Education Program.
“It hasn’t been fully funded. That’s my top priority,” said Mr. Brooks, whose opponent is Republican Joe Graham.
Mr. Brooks has said it was his threat to sue the state over the inequity that led to increased funding. According to the county auditor’s office, county schools now receive an additional $12.9 million in state funds, which is half of what the county’s schools are due.
Mr. Brooks said the county needs to work on its infrastructure and said he wants to combine county and city services. The issue of metropolitan government should be revisited, he said, because it would save money and make services more efficient.
He said he has some regrets about his first term. He would not have approved the sheriff’s office purchase of undercover cars using $200,000 in seized drug funds had he known that one of those cars, a Chevrolet Tahoe, would end up becoming Sheriff Jim Hammond’s personal vehicle.
Mr. Hammond said he merely swapped sheriff’s office vehicles for the car purchased with the drug funds.
“His explanation is less than believable,” Mr. Brooks said.
Mr. Brooks said he also would have voted for expanding the county’s landfill, which he voted against.
Dr. Richard Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said he likes both Mr. Brooks and Mr. Graham, and said both are running serious campaigns.
“(Mr. Brooks) has the advantages of incumbency,” Dr. Wilson said. “Occasionally, it has disadvantages because votes he takes are not pleasing to everyone, but I think one gives the edge to the incumbent.”
John Allen Brooks
* Age: 57
* Occupation: Attorney
* Fundraising: $21,000*
* Since Jan. 16, includes $10,000 personal loan
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