posted May 7, 2008
In 1994 and 1998, Jim Hammond ran for sheriff as a Democrat. According to The Chattanooga Times during his 1994 run for sheriff, Mr. Hammond discredited a fellow Democrat for supporting Republican sheriff candidate John Cupp, calling this fellow Democrat a "mugwamp" for "flipping back and forth between (political) parties." But Mr. Hammond is the mugwamp who has decided to flip-flop, as he did yesterday at a sheriff's forum.
At the North Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce sheriff's forum, Mr. Hammond defined himself as a "mugwamp." When asked to explain why he was running as a Republican now after running for sheriff twice before (and losing) as a Democrat, Mr. Hammond chose to be politically slick rather than to stand on conviction. He flip-flopped.
He said that he ran as a Democrat in 1994 and 1998 because his former boss was a Democrat. But that doesn't sound like conviction. He went on to say that he did not believe he had voted for a Democrat in the last 20 years. But his voting record indicates the opposite.
What Mr. Hammond, in fact, did in 1994 and 1998 was take the support and money of Democrats to run for sheriff. Now he's telling us he was never a Democrat. Now he's telling us he was lying to the voters in 1994 and 1998. But we need a sheriff who can talk straight with us.
By his own definition, Mr. Hammond is a "mugwamp." By his own definition, Mr. Hammond is a man who can't decide where he stands. By his own definition, Mr. Hammond has flip-flopped and undermined the public trust.
For now more than ever, we need our next sheriff to know exactly where he stands.
John Bailes
Chairman, Hamilton County Democratic Party
* * *
I didn’t know that John Bailes still existed. I heard a rumor he was chairman of the Democrat Party. If that is true, why is Stuart James always the spokesman for the media? It is just like Mr. James is still the chairman.
Mr. Bailes seems like a nice enough guy, but why does he let a guy like James run around as a fake party chairman. If John Bailes needs a spokesman, he shouldn’t use a guy who can’t fill out an election form.
Mr. Bailes is right about one thing - Jim Hammond is a mugwump. The problem is that he is just one of many. A lot of these guys say they are Republicans, but when they get in office they vote like Democrats. They still have the same old habits and just change parties to get elected.
There are a lot of us real, conservative Republicans who would like to send you all the mugwumps like Larry Henry, Claude Ramsey, Casavant, and Manny Rico. They should all go home to the Democrat Party and then maybe we would know who is who for a change.
I really don’t know what Mr. Bailes is complaining about. You now have at least three Democrats running for sheriff, Jim Hammond, Greg Beck and Jim Winters. Don’t worry, they will all ask for more money and then you Democrats can support another tax increase. Just be happy that your philosophy is going to win out no matter what.
Robert Thompson
Hixson
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Mr. Bailes, did I hear you correctly? We need elected officials that know where they stand? How about Charles Love, Cotton, Crutchfield and Billy Long? We all know where these Democrats stand, could it be no one wants to be known as a Hamilton County Democrat? I believe you and James are still praising our former sheriff.
I have known Jim Hammond since 1980 and have found him educated, experienced, honest, a man of character and a fine Christian, but not perfect. He will work to restore pride in the sheriff’s office and in the people who serve us. If not being a Democrat is all you can find against him, it surly means he won't end up in jail.
Jim will do what is right no matter the party designation because to him right is right and wrong is wrong. It is about time we add another honest office holder to the few we already have.
N.D. Kennedy Sr.
Ooltewah
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