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December 02, 2007
Chattanooga District 6 update
Signs are going up along Brainerd Road and in other parts of Chattanooga's 6th City Council district as the race to replace Marti Rutherford quickens. The special election will be held on February 5, 2008, and early voting will begin before you know it on January 16. (It is this same early voting date that provides an interesting angle to the upcoming presidential primaries.)
A representative of the Brainerd Unity Group tells me that, so far, three of the six candidates running in the local election have committed to appearing at the group's forum on Thursday, January 24, at the Friendship Community Church. They are Carol Berz, Julie Chamberlain, and Charles Shaw. I hope all six will make it.
Since I will be moderating that event's candidate debate, I will not be endorsing anyone or otherwise commenting in such a way that would influence voters. This is harder than it looks, y'all, because this is my district, and I really want the candidate to win that will best serve the interests of my family, my neighbors, and my fellow Chattanoogans. However, it is the obvious choice.
As far as handicapping this race goes, it's a little tough to tell at the moment. Carol Berz seems to have established a well-defined presence; Julie Chamberlain ran in 2005, so she has some name recognition; Charles Shaw's wife, Uneva, ran a respectable campaign for County Commission a few years back, so they are experienced; and Rick Igou also has name recognition, and was leading the Chattanoogan.com poll the last time I checked. I haven't seen as much activity from or around Barbara Kelley or Melinda Hickey, but there's still time for them to join the fray.
A couple of the candidates have websites (three if you count Rick Igou's Nooga.com, which isn't explicitly a campaign site, but has mentioned his candidacy). Go here to get your links, and let me know what is missing from that page! I'm trying to catch up from a very busy time here at the household.
(Title updated for clarification)
Chattanooga City Elections | By joe lance | 11:36 PM
Comments
Google.com's news alert service pointed me to your site when my name was posted. I have been a regular visitor to your site but typing my fingers off everyday at my site Nooga.com, I rarely add anything to other sites. I hope you understand.
I would be more than happy to attend any of your meetings because it's obvious you have the interest of folks living and working in District 6 where I grew up and now live.
My phone number is 423 488-7191 and my email is rick@nooga.com.
Many thanks,
Rick Igou
Posted by: Rick Igou at December 3, 2007 01:24 AM