(This is the final of ten essays I’ve written ahead of Primary Day on Tuesday)
Politics has changed a lot since I grew up on the campaign trail in Tennessee’s Third District.
Thick skin has grown thin.
Conservative Republicans became RINOs. And the truth is now relative.
But, facts remain.
It starts at the top where the truth on the left is that Biden won. Most of the right believes Trump won.
But, in this race for County Mayor, we’ve spent as much time talking about issues unrelated to the job of County Mayor as we have issues that matter to regular folks from East Ridge to Sale Creek. So how about some hard facts in advance of an important election:
Our tidy “truth” is that Chattanooga is a transcendent, picturesque city on the river. The facts reveal it’s a great place for white children like mine to grow up, but a very difficult place to grow up if you’re a young black boy. Low performing schools have contributed to poor employment prospects and a high likelihood of gang membership.
The “truth,” according to the powers that be, is that everything is fine in county government. The facts are that our public school system, fully 64% of the county budget, fails to prepare 60% of its graduates for work or college.
The good ol’ boys will tell you “the truth is we don’t need term limits.” But it’s a fact that the youngest elected official in county general government is 53 years old and that government sorely needs new ideas. One official up for re-election has been in office since 1974. And, it’s an incredible fact that not a single public school parent serves in elected office within county general government.
Regarding our generational wastewater challenges, some politicians say the “truth” is that we can address our infrastructure woes with federal American Rescue Funds. But the fact is the County Commission has failed to provide a long-term solution and is now relying on a federal bail out.
Developers claim the “truth” is a new $87 million Lookouts stadium will lure more development. Facts of the skilled labor shortage indicate that our local economy would be stronger today if Kirkman High School still played football on Hawk Hill and produced 300 skilled graduates per year. A taxpayer-funded baseball stadium should be weighed carefully and considered within the context of our aging school facilities.
“The truth” isn’t what it used to be. But you can’t change facts.
My opponents have complained about the sharing of facts from an outside group. I’ve criticized those poorly designed mailers, but the facts within them remain. In eight years on the County commission, Sabrena hasn’t done much to address the issues that are now listed on her campaign website as priorities.
And as inconvenient as it is for his candidacy, fewer than 10 of Hullco’s 50 employees work for West Shore Homes, less than one year after Matt Hullander sold his family company. That fact undermines the core claim of Matt’s campaign that he will “make it better.”
As I’ve said throughout this campaign, we won’t always agree, but I’ll shoot you straight. I’ll lead with facts, rather than gaslight you with my version of the truth as most politicians do.
I suspect our original County Executive Dalton Roberts wouldn’t have played along with today’s manipulation of the truth. If I’m given the honor of serving as our County’s fourth mayor, I’ll serve in his tradition of calling balls and strikes, serving all people, regardless of color or creed, and never violating the trust that should exist between the government and the governed in this wonderful country of ours.
On Tuesday, I would be very grateful to have your vote.
Weston Wamp