The backgrounds of the two men seeking the county mayor’s job offer a study in contrasts.
Mayor Claude Ramsey, the Republican incumbent, presents a detailed political resume with stints as a state representative and as county assessor of property. He has held his current job since 1994 and shares credit for the county’s economic development, including landing the Volkswagen auto plant.
Richard Ford, an independent, describes himself as a working man who drives a forklift and said he wants to “give the working people a voice in county government.”
Both candidates met Tuesday with the Times Free Press editorial board.
“I’ve got the experience, I’ve got the know-how and I’ve got the will,” Mr. Ramsey said.
He said he favors consolidating city and county services that make sense and he would lean toward appointing people to utility boards who favor consolidating services.
He called Mr. Ford a “nice guy.”
“It’s very obvious there’s a difference,” Mr. Ramsey said. “Would you want him managing a $600 million budget, negotiating with CEOs?”
Mr. Ford said he’s a “people person” and, if elected, he would give half his salary to charity. The county mayor makes $146,607.
He said he wants to see the county do something to address the homeless problem and said he was once homeless for about six weeks.
And Mr. Ramsey does not deserve all of the credit for Volkswagen, he said.
“I was told from the get-go I was up against the good ol’ boy system, that I didn’t stand a chance,” Mr. Ford said. “But you never know unless you try.”
Dr. Richard Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said independents traditionally don’t do very well in elections.
“I don’t think (Mr. Ford) has a good chance at all,” he said. “I just don’t. I don’t think he is a strong candidate against Claude Ramsey.”
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Article: Mayor’s furniture now election issue
Article: Tax organizations criticize county mayor office upgrade