Discussing his qualifications with the News Free Press, Todd Gardenhire pointed to his "experience in civic affairs, in business, and my heritage."  

The year was 1992 and Mr. Gardenhire was seeking the GOP nomination in Tennessee’s 3rd congressional district, a nomination Zach Wamp ultimately won. 

Twenty years later, in his bid for Tennessee’s 10th senate district, Todd Gardenhire is still running on his name.  

The Gardenhire family is one of the oldest in Tennessee, and Todd proudly touts his ancestor’s "four or five generations" in Hamilton and Bradley Counties as one his strongest selling points, along with his service to Ronald Reagan.

Mr. Gardenhire has every right to be proud of his heritage, but this is America, not Europe, and in this country we don’t list our names under the ‘qualifications’ section of our resumes. 

A public servant should serve the community he or she represents. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Mr. Gardenhire being stockbroker, but when was the last time Wall Street did anything for Tennessee? 

Serving on national boards and committees for former presidents that meet four or five times a year in Washington D.C. is certainly a personal honor, but how does that service benefit our community?

Greg Vital can’t claim four or five generations in Tennessee, but in his 40 years of service to our community he’s put hundreds of people to work, helped train students for the jobs we have, and fought to preserve local farms.

The only biography that matters to ordinary voters is their own, and Greg Vital gets it. Its not about him; its about you. 

Shad Guinn
Chattanooga

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In his letter to this forum criticizing Todd Gardenhire for running on his family name Shad Guinn asked the outrageous question, "when was the last time Wall Street did anything for Tennessee?" If Mr. Guinn was a class warfare Democrat I could understand his economic illiteracy, however since he is supporting Greg Vital it would appear I am embarrassed to say that he must be a Republican.

Mr. Guinn, every time the state or any county or municipality in Tennessee float a bond issue they go to Wall Street to raise the funds.. I would imagine Hamilton County used Wall Street to float the bonds they used to prepare the old TNT plant for Enterprise South which resulted in us obtaining the VW plant. Anytime a company in Tennessee wants to expand; Nissan,  FedEx, Unum, Pilot Oil or whomever, they look to Wall Street to raise the money. And finally probably every mortgage loan originated to finance a home purchase in Hamilton County ends up being in a mortgage backed security put together by a Wall Street firm. 

So Mr. Guinn, to answer your question, today was probably the last time Wall Street did anything for Tennessee. I support Todd Gardenhire, but really like Mr. Vital too, and think we are fortunate to have two well qualified candidates running in the Republican primary. You do your candidate a disservice by criticizing his opponent for being a "stockbroker."

Douglas Jones
North Chattanooga

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I also agree that Mr. Guinn has every right to support Mr. Vital in this election.  The idea that Mr. Vital obviously has “mislead” the public about his education concerns me a little.   

The idea that he stated in the paper that he doesn’t remember what he had for breakfast yesterday concerns me a lot.  What important things he may forget in the future really makes me go, hmmm.

Richard Elrod
East Ridge