January 2, 2010
Them Changes
The first entry on this blog, almost five years ago, was a blip about a Chattanooga City Council election. In 2006, TennesseeTicket tracked all the Hamilton County races and has provided information and...Posted by joe lance on 12:30 PM
December 31, 2009
Don't Look Back
Here at the Ticket, we're not going to recap the year 2009 in politics. There are enough others doing that already, and there are enough reasons not to do it in the first place....Posted by joe lance on 2:40 PM
July 26, 2009
2010 Election Season Commences in Hamilton County
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, whom the "grapevine" had suggested was considering retiring from the position, unofficially announced last week at a Rotary Club meeting his intention to seek another four-year term. Ramsey has...Posted by joe lance on 10:58 PM
November 5, 2008
Will Juster request a recount? Should everyone?
In a comment on my last post, Joe Dumas brings up the possibility that Gregg Juster, who appears to have lost yesterday's county School Board election by just ten votes, could ask for a...Posted by joe lance on 9:00 PM
August 7, 2008
Nail-biter in District 2, perhaps?
With about a quarter of the votes counted, incumbent Chip Baker leads challenger Joe Dumas by a mere 40 votes, 678-638. Obviously this is what Chuck Todd would label "too early to call," but...Posted by joe lance on 8:45 PM
August 4, 2008
Endorsements, recommendations, and predictions for August 7
The Chattanooga Times Free Press, along with countless other papers in the land, has a tradition of publishing endorsements on the Sunday before any Election Day. The Free Press editorial page even mocks up...Posted by joe lance on 12:22 PM
August 2, 2008
I am voting today
Saturday, August 2, 2008 -- the last day of early voting for the August 7 county general and state/federal primary elections. Since I will be at the Brainerd Rec Center all day on Thursday,...Posted by joe lance on 11:20 AM
July 29, 2008
Late links
MAYORWATCH: Chattanoogan.com has a poll asking readers their preference between Rob Healy and Mayor Ron Littlefield in the March 2009 election. Personally, I'd like to see a couple more names in the list. There's...Posted by joe lance on 11:25 PM
July 22, 2008
There is more drama on Signal Mountain..
..than can fit inside the MACC, so it has spilled out onto the local news outlets today. Two-term Hamilton County School Board incumbent Chip Baker, CEO of Friends of the [Riverbend] Festival, faces a...Posted by joe lance on 9:32 PM
July 13, 2008
Did you see that "banned" at Nightfall?
During the break between Up with the Joneses and Bonerama on Friday evening, I ran into District 2 School Board candidate Dr. Joe Dumas, who was drumming up support for his bid to unseat...Posted by joe lance on 9:09 AM
July 9, 2008
The choices for Hamilton County Sheriff
On June 26, I attended a candidate forum presented by the Hamilton County Voters Council and Court Watch Partners, with additional sponsorship from the Chattanooga Neighborhood Association Council (CNAC). All four candidates who will...Posted by joe lance on 10:12 PM
June 19, 2008
School Superintendent contract debate to be front and center today
The Hamilton County Board of Education will be deliberating on whether to renew Superintendent Jim Scales' contract tonight, even though that contract is in force for two more years. By law, the decision has...Posted by joe lance on 10:02 AM
June 18, 2008
Greg Beck talks to supporters
On May 20, 2008, Democratic candidate for Sheriff of Hamilton County Greg Beck spoke to donors and supporters at Bessie Smith Hall in downtown Chattanooga....Posted by joe lance on 6:23 PM
May 20, 2008
Bend it like Beck
The special election to name a new Sheriff of Hamilton County is in full swing. An estimated forty to fifty supporters and volunteers are gathered at the Bessie Smith Hall in downtown Chattanooga for...Posted by joe lance on 6:25 PM
April 14, 2008
School board candidates team up for August elections
While certainly not unprecedented, it is a little unusual to see a slate of candidates not bound by political party* running as a group for all positions on a particular legislative body -- in...Posted by joe lance on 1:58 PM
March 16, 2008
Sheriff race could open new vacancies
Democrats in Hamilton County yesterday selected Greg Beck as their nominee for the August 7 special election to replace former sheriff Billy Long. Mr. Beck, as most of you know, currently serves the public...Posted by joe lance on 12:00 PM
February 29, 2008
Who will be our next sheriff?
With no fewer than ten candidates to fill the interim spot left open by former Sheriff Billy Long's resignation, the Hamilton County Commission has struggled to locate a majority vote for any one of...Posted by joe lance on 9:28 PM
February 3, 2008
Sheriff resignation likely, would mean another special election in Hamilton County
And that would be three, y'all, in less than a year. The election to replace Ward Crutchfield was held in November 2007. The election to replace Marti Rutherford is the day after tomorrow. A...Posted by joe lance on 9:36 PM
August 9, 2006
Out With the Old, In With the...Old, Mostly
Meet your new government It’s a painful realization: many of the scant 28 percent of Hamilton County voters who even bothered to register an opinion last Thursday only got curious the day or so...Posted by joe lance on 10:36 AM
August 5, 2006
Send John Some Love
County Commission District 8 candidate John Bailes (D) has conceded the close election to incumbent Curtis Adams (D->R) with a message of hope. This loss is being felt very deeply in the joe public...Posted by joe lance on 10:57 AM
July 31, 2006
Taking Voters for a Ride
Friday's special session of the Hamilton County Election Commission was too much fun for eight o'clock in the morning. I went to witness the Commissioners act on the curbside recycling petition (it was unanimously...Posted by joe lance on 10:28 PM
July 28, 2006
John Bailes TV Ad
(from smijer)...Posted by joe lance on 11:09 PM
July 26, 2006
For Your Voting Consideration - The Civic Forum endorsements
There’s no need for a long introduction here—let’s just get right to the point. Each elected office* that will appear on ballots in at least one precinct in Hamilton County on August 3 is...Posted by joe lance on 7:34 AM
July 23, 2006
Stuart James' One-sided View of Impropriety
Hamilton County Democratic Party chair Stuart James is correct to point out the possibility for inappropriateness with regard to Sheriff John Cupp and his campaign manager, Election Commissioner Mike Walden. The point is made,...Posted by joe lance on 12:37 PM
July 18, 2006
The Ticket: Picks and Predictions for August 3 - County Commission
Well, it's time. Too late, in fact, for those eager beavers who've voted already. Ah well. Here are my picks and predictions for the 2006 Hamilton County Commission election. District 1 - Fred Skillern...Posted by joe lance on 7:28 AM
July 17, 2006
The Ticket: Picks and Predictions for August 3 - County Administration
County Mayor - Brian Johnson vs. Claude Ramsey Pick: Claude Ramsey. I agree with the Mayor when he says that the challenger lacks the requisite administrative experience to effectively manage an organization of this...Posted by joe lance on 4:14 PM
July 14, 2006
The Ticket: Picks and Predictions for August 3 - School Board Edition
I'm still undecided on a couple of County Commission races, but early voting starts tomorrow today, so I'll start with the Board of Education. Remember, these are nonpartisan positions. District 3 - Everett Fairchild...Posted by joe lance on 7:03 AM
July 13, 2006
John Bailes Gets PBA Endorsement
The local Police Benevolent Association chapter has released its endorsements in the August 3 Hamilton County General Election. I am pleased to see that this influential law enforcement organization recognizes John Bailes as the...Posted by joe lance on 8:51 AM
July 12, 2006
Local Candidate Featured on Third Party Watch
Dr. Joe Dumas, Libertarian candidate for the Hamilton County Commission, District 2, is today's Candidate of the Day on Austin Cassidy's Third Party Watch. Cassidy is a registered Republican but has developed a must-read...Posted by joe lance on 7:52 AM
July 5, 2006
Hamilton County Election Predictions
Not from me, though -- at least, not yet. I'm still in the analysis phase on so many fronts. However, The East Lake Voice has articulated its vision for a September swearing-in. The county's...Posted by joe lance on 9:34 PM
July 3, 2006
Help Me Help John Bailes: We Have One Month
John Bailes is running for the County Commission in District 8. John Bailes is a fiscally sensible family man from East Ridge. The district includes the Concord area and a significant part of Brainerd...Posted by joe lance on 12:14 PM
June 21, 2006
The Long Arm of the Law
I know it's hard to know about all the candidates, especially for offices like Sheriff. I'm fortunate in that I haven't had to deal directly with the department, if you know what I'm sayin'....Posted by joe lance on 10:56 PM
June 13, 2006
Early Voting starts July 14, and we have no machines
Well, I suppose we do have the existing ones. But there is an issue here not covered by the Chattanoogan post, which relates Election Commission Administrator Knowles' concern over poll worker training on the...Posted by joe lance on 4:22 PM