As election season ramps up, two Hamilton County commissioners used their perch on the dais to make campaign announcements — a practice one ethics expert said is inappropriate and one of the commissioners acknowledged is self-serving.
Commissioner Chip Baker, R-Signal Mountain, told the commission — and everyone else attending the weekly meeting on Wednesday — that he was hosting a fundraiser Oct. 9. According to his Facebook page, the fundraiser was for his reelection campaign. At the same meeting, Commissioner Steve Highlander, R-Harrison, said he was hosting a reelection campaign kickoff event Oct. 2. Both said anyone would be welcome to come.
During commission meetings, there is a time period set aside for each commissioner to make announcements for their district, which is when both Baker and Highlander made their invitations to campaign events.