With the influx of money from Lookout and Signal Mountains as well as the teacher’s union, one of my opponents has already been able to send out 3-4 mailers, two letters and a postcard. One should ask why would the “big money” people on Lookout and Signal Mountains care about a school board race in District 1? The only answer is control and they know they cannot control me.
Of the total cash and in-kind contributions given to my campaign, 80 percent have come from the voters in District 1.
I value each and every $5, $10, $20 contribution from the people I answer to as their school board representative.
I have continued to vote my conscience and the will of the majority of the citizens in District 1 to change things wrong in the central office. I have kept citizens informed on matters before the school board, much of which the administration would rather have kept quiet.
For the last 12 years I have a record of success such as Soddy Elementary, the addition to Sale Creek Middle/High, the new entrance to Daisy Elementary off Sequoyah Road, the football field at Sale Creek, worked with Commissioner Skillern to get Soddy Daisy girls softball team a field on campus, as well as many other projects.
My vision for District 1 includes an addition to Soddy Daisy Middle to get the students out of portables, acquiring land adjacent to Sale Creek to have all athletic facilities on campus, working with Steve Henry to assist in getting a usable track at Soddy Daisy High School and continue working to secure more vocational classes at Sequoyah.
I ask for your vote to continue to represent the citizens of District 1. Early voting continues through Saturday, July 30, and Election Day is Thursday, Aug. 4.
Rhonda Thurman
School Board Member, District 1
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As for the mail sent in District 1, I mailed the postcard myself. I wrote it, purchased the cards, printed it from the computer, purchased the stamps and mailed from my home. The cards were sent to my friends and my church friends.
No one helped me with this nor was I asked to do it and did not receive any funds from anyone.
There are people that still believe in the grass roots to get a job done.
Margaret Chastain
Soddy-Daisy
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I would like to answer the question that was asked on this page. "Why The Big Money In District 1 School Board Race?" Our test scores are below the state average (which is not good), two thirds of our third graders cannot read on level, the Rick Smith fiasco, and the Ooltewah scandal.
Our current school board representative has attacked community leaders for caring about our children's education. Few people can understand that. The Davenports, Brocks, Mills, Guerrys, etc. have spent their lives supporting Chattanooga and Hamilton County because they love this area. It's not about control at all. I firmly believe they are supporting candidates that will lead our county at this critical time.
Our current representative has not worked well with other board members. She also told reporters that she didn't have to work with Randy Fairbanks, our county commissioner. Really? How can we in District 1 expect anything to change unless we as voters take the lead to change things. It needs to start right here, right now.
Recently, a mailing went out with a quote I made to commissioners, the press, neighbors, and everyone else that was listening. "Patti Skates is the perfect role model for our students in District 1. We need a professional that has the backs of our children and the trust of their parents." I could also add that she will have the respect of the people that will be working with her.
If you love Soddy Daisy and this surrounding area as I do, please help me elect new leadership for our end of the county, Dr. Patti Skates.
Steve Slater
Soddy Daisy