Jerry Summers
With the announced candidates for the Republican primary for District Attorney General (DAG) in Hamilton County identified as incumbent Neal Pinkston and Congressional family descendent Coty Wamp, it is expected that many allegations as to their strengths and weaknesses will be fully aired and discussed by the rating conscious media, advertisers, supporters, and opponents. Whether a dark horse Democrat candidate will also enter the race is unknown at this time.
District attorney general is the most powerful political office in the county and past history has noted many controversial and hard-fought battles for the highest law enforcement position.
In 1958 attorney Ed Davis upset incumbent, Correy Smith in the Democratic Primary which in those days assured victory in the general election against little Republican opposition.
Davis referred to Smith as “the metallic prosecutor – silver in his hair, gold in his teeth and lead in his a_ _” and also obtained a photo of his opponent riding in a car with a well-known professional gambler. Those tactics worked as he upset Smith and ultimately was elected DAG.
In 1966 incumbent Davis fought off the challenge of legislator Ward Crutchfield who was an avid supporter of former criminal court judge Raulston Schoolfield. Crutchfield had voted “not guilty” on all 31 charges brought against the controversial jurist in his famous impeachment trial in the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville in 1958.
In 1974 Davis’ race was against attorney Harold E. Brown in the Democratic Primary. Brown was considered a long shot candidate because of his labor union support and particularly because of his close relationship with the convicted president of the Teamsters Union, Jimmy Hoffa. Although Brown had been legal counsel for a co-defendant in the famous trial in federal court in 1968 before Judge Frank W. Wilson, he had remained a faithful supporter of Hoffa after his conviction and prison sentence.
However, Ed Davis made a couple of mistakes that would lead to his defeat by the feisty Brown.
He mistakenly placed too much emphasis on what many citizens considered to be “victimless crimes” while not participating in the trial of an armed robbery case at a dry-cleaning establishment where the daughter of the owner was shot and paralyzed. This incident was widely publicized and, combined with the support of the African American community and organized labor, Brown upset General Davis in the Democrat Primary.
Brown’s victory sent shockwaves through the business community, the Republican party, and the moneyed interests in Hamilton County.
Although the Republican Party had gained considerable political strength since 1962 when William Brock, III, a businessman from Lookout Mountain, had upset Wilkes T. Thrasher, Jr., the victory of Brown still created an atmosphere of fear and concern amongst the business and Republican hierarchy.
A hastily called meeting was scheduled at a prominent private downtown business club and many leading (and wealthy) citizens attended.
They agreed to financially back and support a Republican candidate against Brown but had a difficult time selecting the opponent to carry the party’s banner in the August 1974 general elections.
Interviews were held but few qualified candidates were willing to take on the former policeman, labor union attorney and protégé of former Judge Schoolfield.
Finally, a young former assistant district attorney in private practice originally from Columbus, Ohio (and an alleged liberal Democrat) was selected to run against Harold Brown as a conservative law and order candidate.
With the scalpel-like editorials of both newspapers the public was repeatedly warned of the danger that the corrupt Teamsters Union would take charge of law enforcement in Hamilton County. After a long, dirty, and knock down campaign, Gary Gerbitz was elected as the Republican District Attorney General and capably served in that capacity until he was selected to serve as interim criminal judge due to the death of Judge Joseph F. DiRisio. He would leave politician life to finish his legal career as a member of Chattanooga’s oldest and largest law firm, Miller and Martin.
The rumors about the strengths and weaknesses of the two announced Republican candidates for District Attorney in Hamilton County have already started, but as the May 2022 primary date approaches it is predicted that it will become more accelerated, dirty, controversial, and expensive.
Whether 2022 reaches the levels (up or down) of 1974 is yet to be determined after 48 years.
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Jerry Summers
jsummers@summersfirm.com