12-9-01Voice in the Crowd, 817 words
Politics is Fun
By Pete Chaney
IPS Features
Some people love golf. If they are good enough, they can make it a profession. Some like sports and may be fortunate enough to get paid at it. Others just enjoy their golf or tennis or stamp collecting, whatever turns them on.
Some love politics, the challenge of competing for
office and the multitude of faces it takes to put a campaign together.
If elected, they serve and very likely make a career of public office.
I just love politics and seeing the machinery come
together to garner votes, influence people and win elections.
But I have no desire to be a candidate and, if elected for anything,
would certainly refuse to serve.
My first political campaign was as a weekly newspaper
editor wanting the best candidate in office.
All the people I respected went for a local dentist running for the state
legislature. I joined in with my
feeble voice. We signed our names
to a full-page ad to run in the newspaper.
He had ample financing and there was no way he could lose.
But he did. Someone
in the back room forgot to tell me it was a tradeoff.
They wanted him as a threat to keep the heat off the preferred candidate
in another race. I felt like the
guy beating his drum at the head of the parade who finds out the rest of the
parade took a different turn and he’s marching all by himself.
In traveling around in my newspaper work, I joined in
for several candidates, always—I thought—for the best candidate.
There were those ambitious for city council, for mayor, for governor, for
state or federal legislatures, for President.
A long time ago in Camden, SC, when I had the Camden
Citizen, my attorney was John Carl West who was a member of the state
legislature. He went on to become
governor and then to become an ambassador.
Tennessee and especially Chattanooga have fertile
political climates. The newly
created post of County Executive had Dalton Roberts as its first office holder
and likely could have held that office as long as he liked.
His success at the polls was all the more remarkable because of his
gloves off style. Late in his
political career he decided it was more fun to run than to serve.
When Dalton retired, Claude Ramsey took the mantel of
county government. He brought a
more diplomatic touch to office, but has shown the fired to speak up when he
believes he is in the right.
In recent years, Gene Roberts had a smooth touch as
got things done. Often working with Dalton Roberts, Gene helped bring many
innovations and progressive avenues to the area.
First time in the political arena, Jon Kinsey brought a
businessman’s touch to the mayor’s office.
He attempted to apply the sound principles of finance to government.
After Bob Corker, who had run unsuccessfully for Senate, took the reins
from Jon he looked at the checkbook and decided the city had overspent.
He began downsizing, his popularity as well as services.
Everybody was busy blaming Jon for the crunch.
City Council member forgot they were there and no money could be spent
without their vote.
It’s easier to blame someone else.
On the state level, the last 20 years has seen a variety
of agendas from the governor’s mansion in Nashville. Democrat Ray Blanton was prosecuted by the federal government
while in office and was convicted, but later cleared of most of the charges.
Republican Lamar Alexander followed him with a good rapport with the
people. Democrat Ned McWherter came next and had a majority of his
party in the state legislature to work with him.
One of the most popular governor’s in state history
for his first term, Republican Don Sundquist began to see the financial wall at
Nashville beginning to crack. In
his second term, he said the dirty word: income tax. He has been shunned by his own party for facing the issue.
The state legislature decided to plug the hole in the dam by throwing the
one time tobacco settlement money in the lake.
Now they’re eyeing the highway funds.
Next governor will have his hands full.
Phil Bredesen has no close competition from the
Democratic camp. A very successful
businessman and multimillionaire on his own, he has served as mayor of Nashville
and is no stranger to politics.
Serving four terms in Congress, Republican Rep. Van
Hilleary wants to change his residence to the governor’s mansion in Nashville.
Jim Henry has friends in the Republican Party across the state from his
12 years in the state legislature. A
former mayor of Kingston, Jim runs a large company and has the experience of
state government.
Whoever wins—Republican or Democrat—will get into
the ship of state in stormy waters. They
will need help from everyone—and maybe a few prayers.
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