Candidates for Hamilton County mayor made it clear building up schools and focusing on students are cornerstone aspects of their policy priorities at the first debate of the race.
Whether it was education itself, public safety or economic development, the three Republicans during the hour-long debate hosted by the Chattanooga-based conservative organization Hamilton Flourishing on Monday came back to one theme: The next mayor needs to prioritize revitalizing the county’s education system to make Hamilton a more safe, economically viable place to live for residents.
“If we’re going to talk about expanding [pre-K funding] countywide, that’s going to require a tax increase much like the money as a city taxpayer I’m paying right now,” said Weston Wamp, of Chattanooga, when asked about more funding to improve literacy rates.
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While he agreed literacy efforts would be worth considering if more resources were available without a tax increase, he said the current model surrounding literacy rates is “completely broken,” and that if a child can’t read at the proper level, it may mean the traditional school model isn’t right for them and they should take advantage of vocational programs that would prepare them to take careers such as welding.