The email letter went out Tuesday announcing "A new era begins Thursday."
It continues with this message from incoming Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp: "Friends, we've been working around the clock to prepare for the first full transition in county government in almost three decades. ... I've been honored to have the counsel of many of our community's most notable leaders during our tradition -- a talented group of doctors, lawyers, educators, emergency responders, and entrepreneurs.
"Soon, we'll be announcing the first-class team that will be serving in the County Mayor's office day-to-day to help me execute on our ambitious vision for the future of our county."
In talking with Wamp on Tuesday, we got a hint of those ambitious visions:
› "I'm going to give a charge to everybody who's been sworn in to move forward with civic courage."
› "I'm going to try to present an aspirational vision for the future the county ... that we be cognizant of what politics does, in this day and age. I talked in the general election about choosing love and not fear. And so I'm going to specifically talk about what that looks like in the life of an elected official, because there's a fear-motivated path and a love-motivated path."
› "My ambitions are not to perpetuate Chattanooga [just] by ... doing things the way that they've always been done. Same in Hamilton County government. My focus is not going to be on the communities or individuals who've got it made, but it's going to be on those around us who haven't had a voice and haven't gotten enough attention from the highest levels of local government. And I think there's going to be probably some growing pains. ... In a nutshell I'm not going to be easily lobbied, and that's not how the good ol' boy system has worked for a long time around here."
› "We've got a lot of work to do. ... I'm going to try to rein in the soap opera that often seems to take over the county commission chamber and focus county government back on serving people well, and not political agendas."
What is that work?
› "I described as a candidate that economic development is directly connected to workforce development, which is directly connected to education -- that these are the same thing. And you can't have one sustainably without the other. And they all actually end up connecting to violent crime, which continues to be an issue. ... The real highest calling of a county mayor is that ... you will spend the day talking about workforce and then we'll spend a day or will start a committee talking about economic development.
"But your ability to develop an economy or prosper this community is completely connected to public education. ... Conversations just in as recently as in the last week with Justin Robertson [and later with a couple of state commissioners and the governor's chief of staff] really validated a lot of my hopes that with me as county mayor, this county can punch way above its weight."
What of the proceeding Lookouts stadium that Wamp has said was too rushed? How will he embrace it?
› "I won't ever embrace it, because it's a ... terrible use of taxpayer dollars, particularly in a community with the devastating challenges we have. ... But you know, we'll pick the project up where it's left here and ... try to be good stewards.
"They're still some of the biggest questions relative to that project [that] have yet to be asked ... and I will ask them," Wamp said.
But first, there are formalities to take care of -- like being sworn in. Like thanking his transition team and acknowledging the effort of work horses like the Health Department "that has just been put through the wringer [thanks to the pandemic]. And, of course, like paying homage to retiring Mayor Jim Coppinger.
In his email, Wamp says all are invited.
"I'll be sworn into office on Thursday, September 1st at 9 AM in the Trade Center along with dozens of other elected officials. The Inaugural Ceremony is open to the public and I would be honored for you to attend. After taking my oath, I'll deliver brief remarks about the opportunities and responsibilities that lie ahead.
"Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to serve. Hope to see you soon."
The email invitation is signed simply, "Weston."