Robert Chester Heathington Jr.
Andy Berke is running for Chattanooga mayor.EARLY VOTINGEarly voting in Chattanooga’s mayor and council elections starts Wednesday. Election Day is March 5.
A Chattanooga mayoral hopeful who has complained about a lack of attention to his campaign got plenty at a public forum Friday when he made a comment about Jews and said he would not help rehabilitate criminals.
Robert Chester Heathington Jr., a former city employee, told the crowd of about 50 to 60 people at Eastdale Recreation Center that he would eliminate the city’s gang task force if elected.
“The gang task force?” he asked. “Those two guys couldn’t find a Jew in Jerusalem.”
The crowd gasped, then sat silent. Mayoral candidate Andy Berke, who is Jewish, sat five feet away from Heathington.