Hamilton County Commissioner Richard Casavant told his fellow commissioners Thursday that providing property tax relief or a tax freeze to seniors over 65 won't help all seniors because many don't own property.

"It's very important to see who you're helping and who you're hurting," he said.

Dr. Casavant said 43 percent of the county's 44,000 or so senior citizens live in rental housing or other property they don't own. He said a bigger tax burden -- the portion not paid by seniors whose taxes would be frozen -- would pass on from property owners to their tenants.

Dr. Casavant has said he doesn't support a freeze, which would lock in property tax bills at current rates for seniors 65 and older who make $32,890 per year or less, or a 50 percent match to a state tax-relief program.

Commissioner Curtis Adams has called for a vote on both proposals Dec. 17.

Mass e-mail draws one mayoral candidate

After a mass e-mailing went out this week pleading for people to run for the position of Chattanooga mayor, only one person picked up a qualifying petition Friday.

Cecil "Strat" Parrott, a 24-year-old Chattanooga graphic designer, said Friday he still plans to run for the city's top spot against incumbent Mayor Ron Littlefield. Mr. Parrott said he'd heard a large group of people would show up as a political statement.

"It's kind of embarrassing for me," he said.

He plans to run for mayor because he thinks the times call for change.

A mass e-mail was sent out Thursday, signed by an anonymous person called "John Q. Public" and asking for people to meet at the Hamilton County Election Commission at 1:30 p.m. Friday and pick up a petition. The message was sent from Mr. Parrott's e-mail address.

The subject of the e-mail was: "Who will hear the call?"

The writer said many people have asked, "Who will run for Mayor?"

"Today, the question should shift from 'Who will run for Mayor?' to 'Who will not run for Mayor?' " the e-mail stated.

'Bark in the Park' deemed success

On Tuesday, Councilman Jack Benson thanked Parks and Recreation Administrator Larry Zehnder for a successful event last week.

Bark in the Park, which took place at Heritage Park in East Brainerd, was held to raise money for an off-leash dog area in the park.

"There was about 2,000 people that attended the event, and there was a profit of $2,000," Mr. Benson said during last week's City Council meeting.

"And it seemed there were more dogs than people," Mr. Zehnder shot back.

thumbs-up to wamp, corker, Alexander

The National Federation of Independent Business, the largest small-business organization in the country, heaped accolades on U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., and U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., last week.

The federation's president and CEO, Todd Stottlemyer, said the honorees "stand for small business."

Rep. Wamp and Sens. Alexander and Corker, along with Republican Tennessee U.S. Reps. David Davis, John Duncan and Marsha Blackburn, received the group's Guardian of Small Business award.

None of the state's Democratic members of Congress were named as winners.

Senators and representatives who "voted favorably on key small-business issues at least 70 percent of the time" won the award, according to a statement from the group.

Rep. Wamp and Sen. Alexander are up for re-election this year. Sen. Alexander is running against former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke and six independent candidates. Rep. Wamp is facing Democrat Doug Vandagriff and two independents.

Green fair scheduled downtown

A fair to highlight smart energy usage will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Miller Plaza, officials said.

The Chattanooga Green Committee and the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition are sponsoring the East Tennessee Smart Energy Odyssey.

Gene Hyde, chairman of the Green Committee, said there will be a "ride and drive" program where people will be able to test drive hybrid vehicles.

Several companies, businesses and nonprofits such as Orange Grove, Recycle Right, Bike Chattanooga and Take Root will have booths to present information, officials said.

The event will last until 7 p.m.

three stars for area counties

Hamilton, Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, Roane and Sequatchie counties were among the 90 communities recognized last week in a state ceremony honoring participants in Tennessee's Three-Star program.

To earn the annual Three-Star certification, communities must achieve strategic economic growth goals that are in-step with Gov. Phil Bredesen's five-year economic development plan.

"Strong community development is the basis for sustainable economic growth, and these communities have demonstrated their commitment to improvement by accepting and meeting the challenging requirements of these programs," said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber.

State officials also recognized participants in the state's Main Street programs, which also focus on economic development.

The cities of Cleveland, McMinnville and Dayton were among those recognized.

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