County Commissioner William Cotton announced Saturday morning he will not run for mayor of Chattanooga, but is throwing his support behind Irvin Overton.
He said it is important that Chattanooga elect "a person of diversity," and said he decided to help make that happen he would "step back and let one person go forward."
John "Duke" Franklin was at the Cotton press conference at the County Courthouse and he said he is also supporting the Erlanger senior vice president.
"Irvin Overton is a very close friend of mine and he is eminently qualified to be mayor," Councilman Franklin said.
The often-unpredicatable Commissioner Cotton was sounding like a definite mayoral contender as late as Friday. The move was welcomed by Overton supporters, who are hoping the black vote will now unite behind Mr. Overton and that he will pick up enough white votes to win a majority in the March 6 election and avoid a runoff.
But businessman and former state finance commissioner Bob Corker said Friday he is waging an all-out race for mayor and expects to win.
Two current well-known City Council members - Marti Rutherford and David Crockett - are also in the race.
Other mayor candidates include attorney John Wolfe, Thomas E. Smith II, carriage operator Tony Peoples, radio and TV personality Ed Bibbins, Mike Shepherd, Laura Carter, Leonard Rowe and Eddie Ewbanks.
The qualifying deadline was noon today.
Attorney Wolfe, who said he plans to spend up to $75,000 of his own money in the race, qualified on Thursday. He is also expected to file a lawsuit challenging the residency of fellow candidate Bob Corker.
Mr. Corker told the Chattanooga Civitan Club on Friday, "I know without any shadow of a doubt with every cell in my body that I am the most qualified candidate."
He added, "That doesn't mean I am going to win, though I expect to win." He said he is waging a vigorous, highly-organized campaign including knocking on thousands of doors.
Mr. Corker told the club at the Loft that he has some ideas and contacts for improving air service here, and he said he will work toward retaining teachers in inner-city schools. He said they "ought to make more money" than those who teach "in less difficult schools."
The speaker said, "Nobody affects this city like the mayor does, and I want to raise Chattanooga to be a great city of the New South."
Chattanooga has never had a black mayor or a woman mayor.
Mr. Overton is among several black candidates. Ms. Rutherford is one of two women running for mayor along with Laura Carter.
Commissioner Cotton said the addition of Republican Fred Skillern to the County Commission "is another reason I should stay on because Fred is independent." Commissioner Cotton said he is "the senior African-American" on the commission and needs to take part in upcoming redistricting.
He said the city race "is supposed to be non-partisan, but it's not. The Democrats control the city and the Republicans control the county. That's the way it should be because Democrats are the city."
Commissioner Cotton said he had picked up substantial financial pledges, including labor backing. He said some of that money may now be redirected to Mr. Overton.
He said he will actively campaign in the Overton effort, and he said Mr. Overton "has the challenge in getting across the message that he would not just be a black mayor with a black administration, but would b a mayor for blacks and whites and include whites in his administration."
"He has got to sell his dream and vision," Commissioner Cotton said.
Commissioner Cotton said, "I feel I can best serve the ciizens of Chattanooga by remaining in the office of which they elected me and that is the commissioner of District 4.
"My decision was not an easy one. I have given it a great deal of thought, time and consideration. Therefore, I feel that this is without question the best thing to do for all parties involved."
Councilman Franklin said there are several strong candidates - including Mr. Corker and Council members Rutherford and Crockett. But he said it is "time we had an African-American mayor."
The election is March 6. A runoff election may be necessary and will be held a month later.
All nine City Council seats are also up for grabs with only incumbent Council members John Lively in District 1 and Franklin in District 5 being unopposed.
Mayor
Thomas E. Smith II
Tony Peoples
Marti Rutherford
Ed Bibbins
Mike Shepherd
Bob Corker
Irvin Overton
Laura Carter
David Crockett
Leonard Rowe
John Wolfe
Eddie Ewbanks
City Council
District 1
John Lively
District 2
Carla M. Askonas
Sally Robinson
Mark Hopkins
District 3
Bettye Collyer Clark
Grady Rhoden
Charles Elliott
Dan Page
Carolyn Mayes
Wayne Shearer
District 4
Don Eaves
Jack Benson
David E. Hale
District 5
John Franklin Jr.
District 6
Ron Littlefield
Robert R. Graham
Wayne Smith
District 7
John Taylor
Manuel Rico
District 8
Virginia J. Lett
Leamon Pierce
District 9
Yusuf Hakeem
J.T. McDaniel