Breaking News: Robert T. Nash Mulling Run for Mayor, City Council Seat

WGOW “Live and Local” talk radio host Robert T. Nash may be interested in running for City Council or Mayor of Chattanooga. He picked up qualifying papers for the two upcoming races this morning at the Hamilton County Election Commission.

“I’ve seen Chattanooga at its best and at its worst,” Nash says in a prepared statement. “At this point I’m educating myself on the requirements for seeking the District Six seat on the city council, or possibly the top job.”

Nash, a Brainerd resident who gained notoriety for bringing widespread public attention to residency issues that ultimately saw former City Councilwoman Marti Rutherford resign her seat in disgrace in 2007, says his exploratory effort is “not necessarily motivated by the Rutherford flap.”

“Truth be told, I’m no more impressed by the current District Six representative than the former,” he says. “I think she’s vulnerable. As for the top job, Chattanooga has a ’strong mayor’ structure, and that’s by design. I think it’s high time areas outside of downtown and the riverfront are afforded equal consideration. I just need to decide whether I can make the biggest improvement for citizens, taxpayers and property owners by starting small or dreaming big.”

The 45-year-old Trevecca Nazarene University graduate also takes issue with many outside of public office.

“Chief Freeman Copper can’t be found, the crime rate is soaring and the City of Chattanooga Police Department is seemingly accountable to no one,” he alleges. “Meanwhile, the usual poseurs, ‘we know what’s best’ trust-fund types, and specious wannabes continue to seek to unduly control everything, and I mean everything. The results speak for themself, and quite frankly, I think I can do better.”

Nash, who says he will run a “low-budget populist grassroots guerilla campaign” for whichever office he may ultimately seek, also says he will make “banishing non-profits from within the city limits” a top priority.

“Capitalism is the essence of America, and real patriots pay taxes,” he asserts. “When I am elected, all these so-called do-gooders who always manage to avoid paying their fair share by skipping out at tax time will have to find another part of the world to exploit and do business in.”

The fiery talk show host, who says he “has money in every pocket and two pairs of pants,” says he comes by his political aspirations completely naturally.

“My great-uncle and great-aunt were old-school ward healers in the Bookie Turner days,” he said. “Hunter S. Thompson, my chief personal idol and professional role model, came within 100 votes of being elected sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado. Anyone who discounts my ability to prevail at the ballot box hasn’t been paying attention.”

Still married to his first and only wife of 22 years, Nash says he is confident he can walk the fine line required by Citadel Broadcasting corporate policy and his FCC-licensed local employer.

“Congressman Zach Wamp, whom I have great admiration and respect for, blazed the local case law trail with respect to whether or not talk show hosts can legally seek elected office under current ‘equal time guidelines,” he says. “Suffice it to say I am confident. Besides, it’s not like I’m having to go to court to prove I live within the Chattanooga city limits or proper city council district, unlike some in these parts.”

We’ll have more information as it becomes available.