District 2 Hamilton County Commissioner Richard Casavant staked out some controversial positions during his three terms as commissioner, but he thinks voters will favor his experience and good relationships with fellow commissioners.
But for Jim Fields, who opposes Dr. Casavant in the May 4 Republican primary, the incumbent’s 12-year tenure on the County Commission is a weakness. Mr. Fields said he is a firm believer in term limits and lower taxes.
Both Republican candidates spoke Tuesday in separate meetings with the Chattanooga Times Free Press editorial board. Whichever candidate wins the primary will face independent candidate David Cantrell, an airline captain from Signal Mountain, in the Aug. 5 general election.
Term limits
Dr. Casavant, first elected to the commission in 1998, said he toyed with the idea of not running this year, but decided he wanted to be a part of the positive economic change that is coming to the area.
“I am excited about the future,” he said.
Mr. Fields said another term by Dr. Casavant would be a future that closely resembles the past. He said it’s time the district had new representation.
“I’m running because I think I can bring a fresh perspective to the County Commission,” he said.
Dr. Casavant said Mr. Fields makes “a very valid argument,” but said he’s been an effective commissioner and he hopes the voters agree.
“I also have relationships from people who will probably be coming back, like the mayor (Claude Ramsey),” he said. “I feel like the people would profit from those relationships.”
Taxes
Dr. Casavant said the primary and general election opposition he faces this year has to do with his position on taxes. He has voted for tax increases while on the commission and opposed a measure that would have allowed some seniors who own homes to be free from any increase in property tax.
“The fact of the matter is, if you take a group and free them from any sort of tax increase, the burden falls on the rest of the population, which includes seniors who do not own homes, who rent,” he said. “In terms of social policy, it’s something we shouldn’t do. But there’s certain seniors out there that are mad at me.”
Most of the money raised by the tax increases went to schools, he said.
The commission as a whole has been fiscally conservative, which has helped give the county a AAA bond rating, he said. And his was the only vote against hiring a third employee in the commission office, he said.
Mr. Fields called taxes a “necessary evil” and criticized Dr. Casavant’s stances on tax increases. He supports a tax break for the elderly because they live on a fixed income, he said, but the commission should not raise taxes unless there is no alternative.
District 2 candidatesRichard Casavant (incumbent)* Age: 67* Fundraising: $13,000* Occupation: Dean of the College of Business at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga* Political experience: Hamilton County Commission 1998-presentJim Fields* Age: 55* Fundraising: $2,100* Occupation: Attorney* Political experience: None
“There are always ways of finding money without increasing taxes,” he said, saying he would cut the county’s costs first.
Consolidation
Both men said they are against a consolidated government that would merge Chattanooga and the county. The issue recently came up when Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield suggested making Sheriff Jim Hammond head of the city’s police force.
Dr. Casavant said he is not opposed to consolidating police services, but he said the current commission has not been approached formally by the city.
Both men said there are some services that can be consolidated. Mr. Fields said consolidation presents logistical problems and noted there are many municipalities in the county.
“The sense of community is something I cherish,” he said, adding that he does not have a “master plan” to consolidate different functions of county and city governments.
“It’s something we’re going to have to tackle,” he said.
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