Marie Mott should not be elected to District 8 City Council.
She has been unwilling to negotiate or be respectful of other perspectives or the rule of law. She has slandered several positive people in Chattanooga while promoting hypocritical self-glorification and an over zealous power grab. Her intent has been to naively eradicate the Chattanooga Police Department and render them mission ineffective whereby replacing them with a heavily armed paramilitary socialist watch group.
She has fanned the flames of racial tensions, seized a toxic narrative deprived of fact and void of reason and instigated violence and division in our city.
I feel melancholy that she was finally arrested because we used to be friends and I once admired her sangfroid and altruism.
She is misdirecting her vast communication skills towards petulance thus putting personal ambition and ego over the valid points raised by activists and U.S Congressional representatives on the national level. Those disturbed by the tragic death of George Floyd have an ultimate goal of facilitating mutually beneficial reform.
Marie’s stereotyping and demonizing of everyone who wears a badge and swore an oath to protect and serve is harmful and pushes allies to the wayside.
MLK would not have behaved like this, this isn’t unifying rhetoric, or strategic and measured civil disobedience; it is criminal vandalism and obstructing emergency vehicles from rendering aid to injured citizens.
I know Marie is intelligent and charismatic but her arrest certainly is righteously warranted.
A few weeks ago Cameron Williams agreed to attend the next Citizen’s Police Academy with me. I hope he will continue to choose the path of healing and reconciliation as I believe he has a good heart and I pray for him to ignore negative influences.
To every police officer and deputy thank you for understanding that I respect your right to due process and I understand your frustrations. I appreciate your commitment to your profession that is often thankless, difficult, dangerous and unforgiving.
I am running for mayor of the entire city of Chattanooga and that means being a leader who elevates our core ethos that we are all created equal and champions our hope for unity and helps advance the human personality for all of our citizens.
We must resist the temptation to become further polarized or spike the football at perceived political victories.
Thank you to Assistant Chief Glenn Scruggs, Dennis Milton Clarke, Sgt. David Young and everyone else essential in being a part of the solution and not the problem.
I support Chief Roddy’s decision today and I encourage Sheriff Jim Hammond to hold Marie Mott accountable for her unlawful actions.
To the patrol officers and all first responders serving on the front line, I recognize that you are our city’s ambassadors and your actions and courage are the glue that holds Chattanooga together.
Please continue to attempt at having civil dialogue with protesters willing to find common ground and tangible improvements.
Sgt. Jon Watkins, your humility in this regard has been inspiring and I cannot thank you enough for your leadership in the Scenic City.
Lt. Mark Kimsey, thank you for always being the voice of reason and exemplifying the spirit of justice, honor and ethics. “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” Keep speaking truth to power.
Rick Cook, “It’s still your set brother.” We need your leadership from the front. Your career is an example of mentoring the next generation by continuing to set the bar high for all local law enforcement to constantly strive for excellence.
God bless Chattanooga and God Bless the United States of America.
Andrew McLaren
Candidate for mayor of Chattanooga