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Hamilton County: District 5 City Council seat race heats up

By: Cliff Hightower
(Contact)

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Joe Rowe

Hamilton County Election Commissioner Joe Rowe resigned from the commission Monday after saying he was running for the Chattanooga City Council.

Mr. Rowe said he handed a letter of resignation to Election Administrator Bud Knowles on Monday, immediately following a special-called meeting by the commission. The commission met and officially certified the results of the Aug. 7 state primary and county general elections.

Mr. Rowe, who retired in 1999 after 37 years with DuPont, said he will be running for the council’s District 5 seat. The seat opened in May after former Councilman John “Duke” Franklin Jr. was indicted on money laundering and other charges in a federal drug-related case. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The City Council appointed retired educator Luther Shockley to District 5 seat, and he will hold the position until a Nov. 4 special election.

Mr. Rowe’s decision to run came after community leaders, including Robert Schreane and Cynthia Stanley-Cash, convinced him to run.

“There was an overwhelming support in the community,” Mr. Rowe said. “Initially, I had no interest in running.”

Mr. Schreane, former chairman of the North Brainerd Community Council, could not be reached for comment, but has said in the past he supports Mr. Rowe. Ms. Stanley-Cash, president of the North Brainerd Neighborhood Association, said Monday she supports Mr. Rowe because of his grasp of government and manufacturing.

Mr. Rowe said his knowledge of manufacturing can help the city as Volkswagen moves into Enterprise South industrial park.

“As I look at the City Council, I do not see anyone who has the understanding and knowledge of how manufacturing works without doing research first,” he said.

Charlotte Mullis-Morgan, chief deputy elections administrator for the Election Commission, said filing deadline to run for the City Council seat is noon Thursday. Besides Mr. Rowe, Russell Gilbert, food service director at Parkridge Valley Hospital, and Hamilton County school board member Jeffrey Wilson have picked up petitions, she said. Mr. Gilbert has qualified, she said.

Mr. Gilbert said Monday he plans to outline his strengths compared to his opponents in upcoming debates. His strengths lie in working in economic development and with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, he said.

Mr. Wilson, who said he’s “probably running ... most likely,” said he already helps the district through the school system and thinks he can do more to help.

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