posted May 13, 2008
Remember when Jim Hammond ran for sheriff - twice as the Democratic nominee against Sheriff John Cupp? Remember Jim Hammond's service as chief deputy of the sheriff's department? Remember when County Executive Dalton Roberts gave Jim Hammond the nickname Cadillac Jim for his extravagant spending while chief deputy?
Remember Eddie Newell, who ran against Mr. Hammond for the Democratic nomination for sheriff? Remember what Mr. Newell did after he lost the Democratic nomination? According to a 1994 article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Eddie Newell "who fought an unsuccessful battle for his party's nomination in the sheriff race...endorsed Republican candidate John Cupp."
Remember Jim Hammond's response to Mr. Newell's endorsement? Jim Hammond, according to the same article "said he [Hammond] does not believe Newell's endorsement will be a major factor in the upcoming race but added that it probably will hurt Newell's political future." Hammond is quoted as saying "If he is still interested in politics, that's not a very good way to show it - flipping back and forth between parties... We used to call people like that mugwamps where I come from." Remember when Jim Hammond switched to the Republican party?
Mugwamp Jim Hammond appears no better than Mr. Newell, flipping back and forth between parties...in order to win elected office.
There are other issues surrounding Mr. Hammond, and these are historical issues that need answers - answers only Jim Hammond can give to the voters of Hamilton County.
During Hammond's previous runs for sheriff questions surfaced regarding a federal investigation of the Hamilton County Jail. In fact, 16 indictments and nine guilty pleas for charges ranging from extortion and money laundering (to) steroid distribution" were handed down for conduct of members of the department during Hammond's term as chief deputy. As chief deputy, Hammond was responsible for the day to day operations of the sheriff's department.
Sheriff Cupp, while he was lieutenant at the sheriff department, claimed he approached Chief Deputy Hammond about rumors regarding illegal steroid distribution and other problems in the department. Hammond denied Cupp's statement, but Hammond never addressed what he knew or did not know about facts surrounding illegal steroid use, extortion and money laundering in the department.
The federal investigation resulted in 16 indictments; one indictment was Lonnie Hood, a major political supporter of Mr. Hammond. Isn't it legitimate to ask Mr. Hammond what he knew about Mr. Hood, who pled guilty to the charges against him? Isn't it legitimate to ask Hammond what he knew about the indictments, giving answers he failed to give when he ran twice for sheriff?
As everyone in this county knows, Hammond lost to Sheriff John Cupp. John Cupp received 32,509 otes to Hammond's 19,065 votes in the 1998 election for sheriff. According to an article by the Times Free Press Hammond "voiced frustration" over his loss. Hammond is quoted as saying "John stomped me. People pretty much accepted that I was part of a corrupt administration and that John could be trusted...my opponent was very effective in making Jim Hammond look corrupt..."
The problem Mr. Hammond had during that election is that he did appear corrupt because he never answered questions regarding corruption in the department.
Remember Jim Hammond's spending while chief deputy? Jim Hammond was known as Cadillac Jim for his spending habits while chief deputy. In another Times Free Press article the paper reports that phantom campaigners were asking the question "why does the sheriff department pay a gym instructor $32,115.20 per year when the average pay for a fitness instructor in this area [at the time] is between $16,500 and $18,500 a year?" Mr. Hammond, during the 1994 campaign, never answered the question - County Executive Dalton Roberts and County Commissioners like Curtis Adams, brought up issues surrounding Hammond's management of the department, issues Hammond never adequately addressed. When he was labeled Cadillac Jim for his spending habits, it stuck.
Finally there is Mugwamp Jim Hammond, a man guilty of "flipping back and forth between parties" to win public office. Jim Hammond who was twice the Democratic nominee for office apparently feels this flip flopping is OK, if he does it. He feels he cannot win office as a Democrat, so he flip flops over to the Republican party to win.
Mr. Hammond is no better than Eddie Newell who Hammond accused of being a mugwamp when Newell, a Democrat, decided to support John Cupp. Mugwamp Jim now wants his cake so he can eat it too.
Mugwamp Jim is trying to fool the voters, fool them into believing that he can run the sheriff's department, and that he has always been a Republican. History shows that the two time Democratic nominee is a flip flopper who is willing to flip and flop to win office. History shows an association with corrupt individuals in the department. History shows an inability to fiscally manage the department.
When deciding who to vote for in the upcoming sheriff's race, history will reveal the truth about each of the candidates. Mugwamp Jim Hammond, aka Cadillac Jim, has a history.
Maybe the flipping and flopping of Mr. Hammond is a good indicator of what kind of sheriff he will be, a flip flopper who will run the sheriff's department into the ground.
Stuart James
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