A second Independent candidate may be on the ballot for sole commissioner of Walker County in the election on Nov. 8.
Perry D. Lamb, Jr. has been working toward collecting the necessary 1,640 signatures of registered voters on a petition. His campaign said he is close to the goal.
Incumbent Bebe Heiskell is running an an Independent. Election officials said since she was already in office she did not have to go through the process of getting the names on a petition.
Shannon Whitfield earlier won the Republican primary.
The Perry campaign said he and his supporters are going door-to-door and attending county events to collect the signatures before the July 12 noon deadline.
Mr. Lamb said, "I want Walker County voters to have a real choice in the upcoming election. My wife and I have chosen to make Walker County our 'forever home,’ and I can no longer sit idly by and watch the current administration ignore the needs and the voices of the people that live here and work hard to support this county.
“This county can be put on the path to prosperity by having someone who understands that the commissioner’s job is to run Walker County in a more efficient manner and not expect the people who support the county through their taxes to continue to pay more and more out of their budget and in return have less and less for their families.”
His campaign said, "Perry has a background that lends itself well to county administration and solving problems. Before moving back to his home state of Georgia, Perry learned the realities of city government as a young man by working for the city of Tampa Water Department. He was soon promoted into management and learned how to successfully stay within a budget and cut waste while providing necessary utility services to the people of Tampa. He would like to bring the same successful attitude and streamlined government budget for Walker County."
He said going door to door for signatures has given him "an opportunity to learn what is important to the people of Walker County. As an independent I have a great opportunity to work with both Republican and Democratic parties and give a voice to the people who so clearly feel ignored.”
Mr. Lamb returned to college, and for the past 20 years he has worked at Erlanger Hospital as a certified surgical first assistant. When deciding to set down roots in the Chattanooga area, he and his wife, Heidi, fell in love with the beauty of Walker County, he said. They built their house in LaFayette and have also bought land to build and develop a farm elsewhere in the county.
His campaign said, "Perry’s job requires precision and a cool head, and Perry has applied those same attributes to create an efficient nine point first year agenda that will pull Walker County out of its economic slump caused by excessive and unnecessary debt and skyrocketing taxes. His agenda includes a forensic audit of County financial records, decreasing the Commissioner’s salary, and publishing an itemized budget for public review."
Registered Walker County voters can sign his petitions at Talespinners Outdoors on Highway 27, Stu’s Barbershop on Main Street LaFayette, and Quarter Ton Military on LaFayette Road at the entrance to Chickamauga Battlefield or call him at 423 356-2787.