Hamilton County Commission -- July 16, 2008

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said Wednesday that he hopes state Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, is defeated in the Aug. 7 primary after the House member voted against changes to the state education funding formula that ultimately benefited Hamilton County.

“I hope he gets beat in the upcoming election, I don’t make any bones about that,” Mr. Ramsey said of Rep. Cobb, without actually naming the incumbent. “He ought to be replaced.”

Mr. Ramsey’s comments came during the Hamilton County Commission meeting while he was reflecting on Tuesday’s announcement of an upcoming Volkswagen plant. Mr. Ramsey said he “started not to run” for re-election in 2006, but he had two projects he wanted to help see through: modifying the Basic Education Program funding formula and bringing a major manufacturer to the Enterprise South industrial park.

Rep. Cobb is being challenged in the GOP primary by former state Rep. Jim Vincent, R-Soddy-Daisy, who is trying to win back his old 31st state House District seat.

Rep. Cobb said Wednesday that he is “surprised and disappointed that the county mayor would make such a strong and negative statement directed at a legislator who has voted his conscience and also voted in favor of all legislation that could have a positive impact on the people and the economy of Hamilton County.”

“Contrary to what some would have people believe, Hamilton County did not lose any money as a result of my vote on the BEP,” he said. “I was sent to Nashville to represent my entire district, and I am comfortable with my voting record.”

Rep. Cobb said he voted the way he did because he feared the changes would hurt Rhea County, where he lives. His district includes all of Rhea County and part of northern Hamilton County.

“As this program is phased in over the years, it will hurt the smaller counties, and Rhea County is one of them,” Rep. Cobb said.

Mr. Vincent has called Rep. Cobb’s 2007 vote a “major mistake.” But at a recent speech before the GOP Pachyderm Club, Rep. Cobb said his critics need to “get over it” on his BEP vote.

The Tennessee General Assembly approved the BEP changes last year.

Connie Weathers, chairwoman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, said “the BEP vote was a very important vote, but the results on Aug. 7 will tell us just how important it was to the voters in District 31.”