In the May 1 Hamilton County primary elections, Republicans will have as few as two contested races in which to cast votes, and Democrats will have as few as one. It's been predicted that voter turnout in some precincts will be in single digits.
We hope this is not true. Nevertheless, voters will choose Republican Hamilton County Commission members in Districts 1 and 8 since there is no Democratic opponent. On the Democratic side, voters will choose a commissioner in District 5 since there is no Republican foe. So, for those who would run Hamilton County government, the primary races are critical.
Commissioners Sabrena Smedley (District 7) and Chester Bankston (District 9) automatically will retain their seats since they have no Republican primary opponent and no August general election foe. Elsewhere, District 2 (no incumbent running), District 3 (incumbent Republican Greg Martin), District 4 (incumbent Democrat Warren Mackey) and District 6 (incumbent Republican Joe Graham), will have contested races in August.
Early voting begins Wednesday. Confound the prognosticators. Vote.
In the primaries, the Chattanooga Free Press page recommends:
DISTRICT 1: Fairbanks has earned second term
Hamilton County Commission Chairman Randy FairbanksIf it were up to him, Hamilton County Commissioner Randy Fairbanks would spend all his time in District 1's schools, fire stations, veterans halls and food banks.
"That's what I enjoy," he told the Times Free Press editorial board.
Fairbanks says, tongue in cheek, his "little job on Wednesdays (chairing commission meetings), where decisions have to be made," is the "least enjoyable" part of his gig.
By all rights, though, he has done a commendable job, enough for us to support him for a second term.
Fairbanks, 61, says he wants to see the completion of a long-promised track at Soddy-Daisy High School, fire hall on Mowbray Mountain and fruits of the property tax rise he supported (through a millage rate adjustment) last summer.
"I'm not a big proponent of a tax increase," he says, admitting Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger made the case for it. He told Coppinger he would support the adjustment if a senior tax freeze could be enacted, which it was.
Fairbanks said the school capital projects funded by the taxes are important but so are 10,000 new homes that will be served by a new wastewater treatment plant also funded by the new rate.
"That [home] building keeps us going," he said.
An exception, Fairbanks said, was a gun club some sought to build in Soddy-Daisy. Homeowners were against it, so he made his own studies of sound that would emanate from the club. Satisfied, he sided with residents. The club was not built.
Steve F. Coker, 66, a soon-to-retire telecommunications specialist for Hamilton County, is the incumbent's Republican primary opponent.
He maintains he is "not a politician," is "dependable, approachable and will listen," and is self-funding his bid.
While Coker has not formed specific positions on many issues the commission deals with, he'd do one thing we support: ask questions.
"They're not debating things," he says. "I will be asking questions. If elected, I will stick my foot in my mouth [asking them]."
While we favor Fairbanks for his grasp of county matters, we would like to see the whole commission become a little more inquisitive about the people's business that comes before them.
DISTRICT 4: Mackey sees bigger county picture
Hamilton County Commissioner Warren MackeyIf things go well for Hamilton County, says incumbent County Commissioner Warren Mackey, they'll go well for his District 4.
And, he told the Times Free Press editorial board, "Hamilton County is going in such a great direction."
Mackey, 68, a Democrat seeking a fourth full term on the commission, noted the county has 22,000 more residents since 2010, that a property tax rise last summer (through adjustment of the millage rate) will produce millions for schools, and that a long-needed Howard School stadium and the reopening of Howard Middle School will be among the projects financed by those millions.
"I wish we were more county-minded than focusing on our own little corner," he said.
Because Mackey comprehends a rising county tide floats all boats, we believe he deserves re-election.
He's no Pollyanna, though. He understands the county needs a better prepared workforce, wants to strengthen schools (and says the recently announced Future Ready Institutes is a good start) and says students should have a more equitable education.
Mackey is opposed in the primary by Kelvin Scott, 48, a disabled Army veteran who has been a Hamilton County election commissioner, Hamilton County Democratic Party youth coordinator, and substitute teacher and coach.
Scott said his focus is not on the incumbent but claims Mackey is more connected to the "power structure" and not "everyday people."
The challenger said he doesn't see the same prosperity across the district and wants to remedy that. He said he has plans to mend and build relationships, create partnerships in the community and ensure more black businesses get county contracts.
Like Mackey, Scott seeks improvements in District 4 schools and in equity for students. To facilitate a better system, he would like teachers to spend a minimum of three years in struggling schools, give them tax breaks as incentives and encourage more businesses to "buy into the schools."
We appreciate Scott's enthusiasm but believe Mackey's veteran leadership will serve the district better.
DISTRICT 5: Katherlyn Geter preferred
Katherlyn Geter is a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Hamilton County Commission.Four years ago, this page supported Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck in his bid for a third full term in District 5. With no disrespect to the body's senior commissioner, we believe it's time for new leadership.
Katherlyn Geter, 43, a health care advocate, offers that in the winner-take-all Democratic primary, pledging to build community partnerships that she says are not the current commissioner's forte and vowing to work closely with the district's school board representative.
The challenger says she would be a champion of change, be visible and listen to the residents' feedback, stress transparency and not represent the good ol' boy system.
Yet, Geter says, she knows how to be a team player.
She also says she is concerned about the district's three failing schools, wants to see improvement in its exceptional education and would like to see more early childhood education. And though the county has little role in district residents' individual health care, she would like to see a more inviting Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department and more community health care collaborations.
Beck, 70, who was appointed to the office in 2005, said he has tangible accomplishments to offer voters. He said he took heat for voting for tax increases but would do it again if it produces better things for the county (such as a 5 percent raise for teachers).
He also longs for a return to a $1-$2 million "giant summer work program" he once helped administer, noting how it taught teens life management and other key skills.
Beck, who sagely notes it takes five votes to get anything done on the commission, says he hopes voters remember him as "a guy who's been a protector of my money" and someone who understands a commissioner has to have "maturity, longevity and be a friend" in order to be effective.
While we believe the incumbent knows when to speak out and when to go along to get along, we prefer Geter's potential this time around.
DISTRICT 8: Thorough Boyd deserves re-election
Hamilton County Commissioner Tim BoydFour years ago, when Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd sought a second term in District 8, this page did not support him in either the Republican primary or general election.
Over the past four years, though, we have come to appreciate he is the primary one of seven Republicans on the nine-member panel who is willing to ask tough questions, not accept what's presented at face value and give public records a thorough scouring in order to find answers.
Boyd's stance is one that has not made him a favorite of Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger and sometimes his fellow commissioners. Occasionally, even we believe he stands too long on principle when progress should be the goal.
But, overall, we believe he is well-deserving of a third term on the commission. Every governmental body needs a persistent, prickly questioner.
"I really like the job," Boyd, 65, told the Times Free Press editorial board. "I think we (Hamilton County) can be better, and I want to be a part of that."
The two-term incumbent can point to situations (the Wastewater Treatment Authority and the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau) where his questioning resulted in needed changes. He noted his entire district has seen $400 million in development over the last eight years.
"District 8 is doing really, really well," he said.
Boyd's opponent in the Republican primary, East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert, 41, said he is the architect of much of that improvement. Under his leadership, a Bass Pro Shops was developed at Interstate 75 Exit 1, interstate exit and entrance ramps that required a lot of coordination were reworked, and Camp Jordan, "the crown jewel of East Ridge," has been improved and is seeing more use.
What he accomplished in the city, he wants to "expand to District 8."
We endorsed Lambert in a three-way primary for the District 8 seat four years ago, but we don't sense the same enthusiasm in him for the race this time. And we were troubled by his lack of candor on a threat Boyd was supposed to have made to him - and over which a complaint to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been filed - when he called the commissioner earlier this year over some damaging information Boyd was said to have on him.
The incumbent, for his part, said he suggested his opponent leave the race because of implications of the information he had.
We believe the kerfuffle will blow over but think Boyd should be retained.