I woke up this morning to an email titled, "Who will hear the call?" The anonymous email asks qualifying citizens to register with the Hamilton County Election Commission to run for mayor in 2009, Friday, September 26 at 1:30 PM:
A small group of Chattanooga citizens have already decided that they will make a bold statement by picking up papers at the Hamilton County Election Commission this Friday. Will you join them? Will you reject the status quo? Will you refuse to accept isolated and incremental efforts as good enough for this city that you call home.
Our Chattarati listserv is a buzz this morning as we consider all the possibilities of covering the event. For now, we invite you to read the original email after the jump, and let us know your thoughts and deliberations if you intend to join the movement—or not.
Fellow Citizens, We stand today at a great crossroad in the history of our community and our world. Uncertainties abound and yet the endless seeds of opportunity are taking root all around us. Governance and policy experts who once pointed to national leadership as the key to our future have now re-framed their beliefs and described local leadership as the cornerstone of the future of our economic independence and pursuit of happiness. All these factors and more lead many citizens to ask big questions. Where do we go from here? How do we get there? Who will lead the charge? The days and months have progressed but the questions have stayed the same. One question in particular has been repeatedly asked in Chattanooga, "Who will run for Mayor?". That question has stirred the souls of many and been the topic of countless conversations around many, many tables. Today, the time has come for the citizens of this great community to address this question in an unprecedented way. Today, the question should shift from "Who will run for Mayor?" to "Who will not run for Mayor?". We have before us the chance to make a remarkable statement to our fellow citizens and the rest of the world. This should serve to your call to action. Will you run for mayor? Will your friends, family, and colleagues run for mayor? Maybe, we will all run for mayor. In fact, if you believe that Chattanooga needs uncommon leadership for unprecedented times, it is your civic duty to join other concerned citizens in running for mayor. A small group of Chattanooga citizens have already decided that they will make a bold statement by picking up papers at the Hamilton County Election Commission this Friday. Will you join them? Will you reject the status quo? Will you refuse to accept isolated and incremental efforts as good enough for this city that you call home. If so, here's what you can do: Respond: Send a reply to this message and state your intent to pull papers this Friday afternoon for the 2009 City Mayoral election. Another e-mail will be sent around this time tomorrow evening to share the number of individuals who have decided to step-up. Gather: Join fellow citizens this Friday, September 26th at 1:30 P.M. in the parking lot of the Hamilton County Election Commission. The Election Commission is located at 700 River Terminal Road, Chattanooga, TN 37406. Once candidates have gathered, the group will proceed into the Election Commission to request appropriate forms for the 2009 City Mayoral election. If you have questions on eligibility, please see the bottom of this e-mail. Inform Others: This e-mail is being sent to you because you have demonstrated a sincere concern for Chattanooga and an interest in engaged citizenship. Please share this information with others who might hear the call to serve and be part of this historical political moment. This Friday has the potential to be the day where an engaged citizenry stands up and declares that the path of a place to greatness demands involvement by all. Forward Chattanooga, John Q. Public, Aspiring Mayoral Candidate imrunningformayor@gmail.com Details from the Hamilton County Election Commission Website: The general qualifications of persons permitted to hold public office are set out in TCA 8-18-101. This section provides that all persons of the age of eighteen (18) years who are citizens of the United States and of this state, and have been inhabitants of the state, county, district, or circuit for the period required by the constitution and laws of the state, are qualified to hold office under the authority of this state except: Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode prescribed by law. Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county in the state. Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void. Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular armed forces of the United States. Members of congress and persons holding any office or profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.
David Morton
Chip Seal on Sept. 26, 2008
I'd run, and promise to be more than a one issue candidate.