County GOP leaders rally around Haslam

Hamilton County Republicans put further distance between themselves and the Republican primary Thursday with a dinner honoring their gubernatorial nominee, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.

Dozens of party leaders and faithful gathered at the Doubletree in downtown Chattanooga for dinner and to hear Haslam speak. The Hamilton County Pachyderm Club hosted the event.

“A lot of you helped Zach,” Haslam said, referring to his primary opponent Zach Wamp, who gave up his 3rd District congressional seat to run. “I need your help now. Right now it’s really important.”

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., gave the introduction and said that as a politician he’s won and he’s lost, losing to Bill Frist in the 1994 Republican primary for Senate. After Haslam spoke, Corker said he felt like part of being a senator is helping to smooth out any differences left over from the primary scuffles.

Hamilton County Pachyderm Club President Marty Von Schaaf said he felt the showing Thursday proved the party is “pretty well united.”

Haslam said he was thankful for the support.

Haslam and Corker navigated away from local issues. Haslam, who talked about wanting to reduce the size of government, deferred to local leaders on the question of whether Hamilton County and the city of Chattanooga should consolidate services. Corker, a former mayor of Chattanooga, also decided against discussing his views on the efforts to recall current Mayor Ron Littlefield.

Controversy wasn’t on the menu.

County Commissioner Jim Coppinger said he thinks Haslam will get all the help he needs from Hamilton County voters.

“That’s what we witnessed tonight,” he said. “It was a unified effort.”