Smith can bring new vision to board
Hixson needs a new voice on the Hamilton County school board. This is why we support Ken Smith for District 3 and encourage others to learn more about his vision and plans for building better public schools for our community.
As the father of public school children and a husband of a public school teacher, he sees first-hand the challenges our public schools face every day. He is also a small-business owner and understands how to manage a budget that does more with less.
Ken’s conservative, professional expertise will bring a new vision and leadership to our school board by challenging the status quo and doing an intense review of each recurring expense to ensure that it is needed. Ken will also ask if there is a way for our schools to accomplish the same thing more economically.
If you believe Hixson needs a change, please join me at the polls on Aug. 5 to elect Ken Smith for District 3.
GRAY and EMILY RAMSEY
Hixson
Haslam sticking to platform subjects
Just when I thought the gubernatorial primary was going to be free of the Washington political “mud-slinging” and run on an ideals platform issues basis, along comes Zach Wamp’s new TV ad with regard to derogatory information on his opponent, Bill Haslam. Kudos to Bill Haslam for responding with a very classy ad stating he would stick to the ideals and platform subjects and not engage in the type ad Zach had released which is not in keeping with Tennessee politics.
Zach evidently has a short memory because I believe in the beginning he stated he would also run a campaign that did not stoop to such tactics as he used in the latest ad. Evidently Zach is becoming desperate at this time to do such.
Bill Haslam is a lot like our current governor, in that he does not need the job for money but wants to return something to the state of Tennessee and its people. This is unlike Zach, who if he loses will have to go to work again. Shame on you, Zach, for running such an ad.
DON R. JORDAN
Hixson
Smith has will, wisdom to lead
I’m just an ordinary fellow who has now lived the last 32 years of his life in Chattanooga. I own a business, attend church, belong to the Rotary Club, and I have raised my family (now including grandchildren) right here in Hamilton County.
I care deeply about what happens in my city, my county and my country. Many times I have a sense that professional politicians do what is expedient for their career rather than what is right and best for my family and me.
Like many, I am sick of politics and politicians. In our congressional district we know we will have change. If things like honesty, integrity, values, commitment and a sense of right matter to you, may I recommend to you Robin Smith for Congress.
For more than 20 years I have watched her as a businesswoman, a mom, a church leader and one who cannot sit by while the actions of others are not congruent with what they say.
She is an “everyday person” who has the will and wisdom to lead at a time when we have many politicians, but few statesmen in government. Robin will make a difference, I plan to help her make that difference.
ALAN JOHNSTON
Reward Swafford for his good work
I’ve known Ron Swafford for 25 years. I met him when I was a young lawyer practicing in Juvenile Court. He was a probation officer working for Judge Dixie Smith.
He impressed me with his work ethic, his dedication to his job and his compassionate approach to all parties appearing in Juvenile Court. Over the years, he has grown in his knowledge of the function of Juvenile Court and has always been accessible to those who needed his assistance. As a prosecutor assigned to Juvenile Court for six years, I worked with Ron on a daily basis and had the opportunity to see him as a genuine and caring individual.
When Ron was first appointed as Juvenile Court clerk, it was an appointment based on merit, not politics. Since his appointment and subsequent election to the post, Ron has continued to work hard at maintaining a smooth-running office servicing all the courts at Juvenile Court. He understands the details of what the law requires from his office and performs the vital job of Juvenile Court clerk exceptionally well.
Ron deserves to re-elected. He’s worked his way up through the ranks and should be rewarded by his return to the office of Juvenile Court clerk.
RODNEY STRONG
Wamp stood strong on support of Iraqis
I was the commander of a battalion task force called Task Force Dragon Slayers in Operation Iraqi Freedom prior to the surge in 2006. Our mission was to locate the source of the most deadly IEDs called EFPs. What we discovered at the time was classified; however, it now is common knowledge. Iran was the main source of the EFPs used by the insurgents in Iraq.
This same year was a critical election for the control of Congress. While I saw first-hand the hope in the eyes of the Iraqis giving them a chance to get their country back, many politicians were misrepresenting the success of the mission in Iraq. To get elected, politicians called Operation Iraqi Freedom a “failure.”
Congressman Wamp stood strong not only in supporting the mission but the freedom of the Iraqi citizens. I would send him e-mails from Iraq, usually titled “The Rest of the Story.” He willingly and enthusiastically read the e-mails on the floor of the House. He did what was right even though at the time it was unpopular.
Both our country and the Iraqis can thank leaders like Congressman Wamp for their leadership in tough times. We need leadership like that in Tennessee.
BRETT M. HALE
Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve
Ooltewah
Boyd gets no union funds, won’t owe
Voters of District 8: As many already know, Kenny Smith and Tim Boyd are candidates for that seat left vacant by Curtis Adams.
What many may not know is that Kenny Smith has raised over $60,000 in campaign funds, and much of that money has come from labor unions.
Why would it take that much money to run for a County Commission seat?
Please believe that they are not giving him the money without a reason.
You cannot accept that much money and not owe those who have given it to you.
It seems the unions are trying to buy that Hamilton County Commission seat.
I urge all voters of District 8 to vote for Tim Boyd.
He has not received any labor union money and if he is elected, he will not owe anyone but the voters of District 8 who put him there.
LIZ NORRIS
Council should look to correct mistake
Chattanooga’s voters have obviously made a serious mistake – we have elected City Council members who cannot read, as we discovered with the recent passage of the sewer increase.
Amazingly, several council members were “surprised” that they had approved the increase.
We should ask each member: (1) Can you read, or (2) are you too lazy to read what you are voting on, or (3) are you just incompetent?
This is just another installment in a series of events that expose that Chattanooga employees are not doing the jobs they are being paid or elected to do.
If the council members would bother to read what they vote on, they would not pass a sewer fee that we can’t afford. (We don’t all have part-time jobs on the City Council that allow us to afford all these “little extras.”)
First, we have a property tax hike that nobody can afford; now, we have a sewer tax hike nobody can afford, including a lot of businesses, as well as the residents of this town. Perhaps you are mathematically challenged, as well.
Important question: What will you do, council, to correct your mistake?
LINDA LAKE