Joe Smith, director of Mission Advancement for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, said he plans to run as an Independent for the District 3 County Commission seat being vacated by Marty Haynes.
Quite a crowd was expected to be on hand at the Hamilton County Election Commission headquarters on Thursday morning as Mr. Smith, described as "an uncommon man who happens to have a common name," was filing papers to run for the commission.
The Democrats and Republicans are holding caucuses to choose candidates.
Greg Martin, county school board member, is seeking the GOP nomination.
Voters will choose a replacement for the remainder of the Haynes term through August, 2018.
Mr. Haynes, who represented District 3 for one and a half-terms, was elected as the successor to the retiring Bill Bennett as the county’s assessor of property in August.
Mr. Smith said he was aware that Mr. Martin had actively pursued the Haynes seat for months and he knew that if you are considered by the caucus and not selected, you cannot run. He said, “I’ve voted Republican all of my life but I didn’t make my mind to run until I’d really had a chance to see what it will take to do the job well.
“I admire both the Republicans and the Democrats but more than anything I want to run as ‘Joe Smith’ because that’s what really matters, the kind of person you are, and what you stand for on the County Commission.
“I’m not a politician – I have been a servant my entire life – and as my career at the YMCA winds down, the commissioner’s job would be an ideal way for me to keep giving back the blessings God has bestowed on me.”
Joe Smith’s independent run will be chaired by long time community member Charlie Hunt. Communications and outreach will be directed by Clint Powell.
Early voting will begin Oct. 19 and end Nov. 3.
Known as a preeminent Christian, sports figure and community cheerleader, he was put in charge of the YMCA’s Community Action program in 1997 after years of working with youth as a pastor, a substance abuse expert and a highly-noted boxing official and coach. He said, “We kicked off the Y-CAP program with a $40,000 budget and today – almost 20 years later – we have an $800,000 budget and believe our model is the most successful and longest-running program in the country.”
His campaign said his accomplishments include:
* -- He served as an addiction counselor between the years of 1987-1996 at multiple alcohol and drug treatment facilities such as Crossroads, Peninsula Valley, and Greenleaf Health.
* -- In 1991, he and his wife Paula began taking in foster children alongside their own two children, Andy and Abbey. Majority were teenage boys; 19 foster children have come through their home over the years.
* -- Memorial Baptist Church youth minister: 1992-1996
* -- He was nominated as the ‘Father of the Year’ by one of his foster children which granted him the opportunity to carry the Olympic torch in the 1996 Atlanta Games.
* -- White Oak Baptist Church youth minister: 1996-2000
* -- 1996 Department of Human Services: Family of the Year for exemplary devotion to family
* -- 1996 Hamilton County Juvenile Court Humanitarian Award
* -- In 1997, he was called to be the executive director of the pilot program YCAP (YMCA Community Action Program). As of 2015, YCAP Chattanooga is the longest continuously running early intervention prevention program in the Southeast.
* -- Lookout Valley Baptist Church youth minister: 2000-2005
* -- He served as the team manager for the USA Men’s Olympic Boxing team for the 2008 Beijing Games.
* -- Red Bank High School Hall of Fame 2008
* -- Elected as chairman of the Tennessee State Athletic Commission in 2009 where he currently holds a vice chairman position on the board.
* -- Volunteer Driver for Zach Wamp’s 2010 Governor campaign.
* -- 2010-2011, he was the general manager for the Memphis franchise of AIBA’s (Amateur International Boxing Association) semi-professional boxing league, World Series of Boxing.
* -- In 2011, he served as the USA Women’s Boxing Team manager for their Inaugural International Olympic Qualifier in Montreal, Canada.
* -- Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame: Jim Morgan-Allen Morris Award 2013
* -- 2013 United Way Advocate of the Year
* -- 2016 recipient of the Chattanooga Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award
* -- 25 years as a TSSAA referee for the sports of Football & Basketball.
* -- Certified Amateur Boxing judge, official and coach for over 23 years.
Joe Smith with Sherri Sivley at the election office