Editor’s note: Read all Times endorsements for Hamilton County Board of Education in the Aug. 6 election here.
While incumbent Republican board member Gary Kuehn voted to end the district’s contract with Centerstone, he did finally compromise and accept them as an option once faith-based vendors were offered.
In the spring primary, Kuehn’s challenge from far-right candidate Sterling DuPré was enough for the Times to endorse Kuehn. But now in the general election, Kuehn’s senseless moderation should be rejected by voters.
In an interview with the Chattanooga Times, Democratic candidate Jordan Hammond made clear he knew what was at stake in cutting off mental healthcare.
“To have services provided to the kids at no cost to the county, be ripped away for the reasonings that I’ve heard — such as kids being potentially of a different orientation or different gender — is upsetting to hear that any kid would be treated like they’re lesser, like they don’t deserve something because of how they were born,” Hammond said.