posted August 8, 2008
Before anyone draws any conclusions on Thursday's Hamilton County School Board election results, let's put things into perspective.
Yes, it's true. Rhonda Thurman's Back on Track team did not win. While Rhonda's strength in her own district prevented anyone from even trying to run against her, that popularity did not transfer to a few other neighborhoods. Let's examine the reasons.
In District 2, Chip Baker won another term despite his record of slick, evasive, manipulative behavior. Understandably, he was swept in by his neighbors on Signal Mountain, who are happy about their new school. And Chip's high-income peers on Lookout Mountain supported him as well. Chip's continued influence on the School Board ensures four more years of protection for the white private "public" schools on the mountains.
It was a different story in the valley, where Red Bank, Mountain Creek and Falling Water voters finally took notice of Chip's constant neglect of their schools. Unfortunately, they were outnumbered by their better organized, Bob Linehart-led neighbors on the mountain. Four years ago, Chip got 73 percent of the total vote. Even after landing a new school for his neighbors, he only got 55 percent this year (even with the support of current and former board member cronies Conner and Puryear, and Jesse "Golden Parachute" Register).
A win is still a win, but most politicians would get a clear message from those declining numbers. That's unlikely to happen, however, as Chip Baker will be even more arrogant during his next term, while schools in his district like Red Bank High will continue to wither away.
Two years from now, when Richard Casavant steps down from the commission, Chip Baker will take his seat, and then hopefully run for countywide office, so that more valley people can weigh in on his political future. My thanks to Dr. Joe Dumas for making Chip sweat and giving voters a choice.
In the District 4 race, Debra Matthews also managed to get 55 percent of the vote against a white candidate. A white candidate who only moved to Chattanooga two years ago. A white candidate no one had heard of until a few months ago. This is a district that has never elected a white person to any office. And Debra Matthews, a 10-year incumbent, gets 55 percent of the vote. Again, a win is still a win, but it's hard to call that a sweeping mandate, or a strong endorsement of her record. Especially considering the shenanigans surrounding the last-minute "change of heart" endorsement by the barbershop man. Yes, the Lord told him to do it. Along with JoAnne Favors, Tommie Brown, Warren Mackey, and, well...you get the idea.
(It's also interesting to note that a third candidate, Kenneth Simpson, who is black and a longtime foe of Matthews, was suddenly talked into dropping out of the race after qualifying and getting his name on the ballot. Just as suddenly, he became Matthews' best friend and supporter. Could it be that someone did the math and realized that Matthews and Simpson would split the black vote, giving Juster the win with his potential 40 percent of the vote?)
Among voters who actually studied the issues, went to the polls on their own, and filled in the ballot themselves, Gregg Juster probably won in a landslide. On the other hand, other voters put Debra Matthews over the top. It's business as usual in Alton Park, Bushtown and Avondale.
Mr. Juster put it best during one of the candidate forums. He told the audience, "If you're satisfied with your schools in District 4 getting Fs and Ds on the State Report Card every year, don't vote for me. Vote for Debra Matthews." The voters have spoken. They will continue to complain about their poor-performing schools for the next four years when they will again re-elect Debra Matthews. History does indeed, repeat itself.
And in District 7, Linda Mosley scored an impressive win. No one knows much about her position on the issues, but one thing is encouraging. She is not Joe Conner.
Joe Davis
Chattanooga
* * *
Very well written, Joe Davis. Chattanoogans again have proven that they care nothing about the school system by voting in the worthless individuals again.
I really thought this time the community could see through the continuous turmoil within our school system and vote these people out of office and bring in ones who want to work to make it better. How disappointing.
E. Griffith
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