No Dems running in District 3

Area encompasses Hixson, Middle Valley, Lakesite and Big Ridge

When the polls open on Nov. 8, Hamilton County voters in District 3 will decide who will represent them on the County Commission, but there won’t be a Democrat on the ballot.

The seat was vacated last month by Marty Haynes, who won his bid to serve as the county assessor of property. His election kicked off another election process to replace him, since he could not serve in both roles.

Both Republicans and Democrats caucused Thursday night, but at the Democratic caucus, no one stood for nomination. The district represents Hixson, Middle Valley, Lakesite and Big Ridge.

Across the aisle, Greg Martin, a real estate agent who serves as the district’s representative on the county school board, accepted the Republican party’s nomination during its own caucus.

If Martin wins the general election, he will relinquish his position on the Board of Education and the County Commission will appoint a replacement.

He will be challenged by independent Joe Smith, the director of mission advancement of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga. Smith said he would be competing against the Republican nominee despite voting Republican all his life.

“I am a Republican running as an independent. In my opinion a local election should be non-partisan anyway,” Smith said in a written statement. “Pull my voting record you will see I’ve always voted Republican, but I welcome the support of Democrats, Republicans and independents.”

Martin, a native to Hixson, said he considered the nomination “a great honor.”

“I’m not a Johnny-come-lately to this party or this process or this district,” he said. “This is my home. This is where I was born and raised.”

He said his years of serving on the Hamilton County Board of Education had helped prep him for the role and said he had extensive experience with finances and budgets.

“It is important who governs. The reason I want to serve in this office is because I believe in public service,” he said.

Speaking on the lack of a Democrat challenger, Martin said, “Tonight, I’d be embarrassed if I were a Democrat.”

The chairman of the Democratic caucus, Billy Joyner, responded, “Frankly, I don’t think the Republicans need to be talking about other people being embarrassed this election.

“We’re focused on electing Hillary Clinton, Melody Shekari, and Khristy Wilkinson, and everybody’s upbeat about that,” he said, pointing to other races that Democrats are pursuing heavily.