Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles did an about-face today, announcing at today's Pachyderm Club meeting that he's becoming a Republican after 10 terms running as a Democrat.
Knowles said the party's values have changed since he first ran for the office. Knowles also benefited from substantial Republican support in his recent re-election campaign as party leaders denounced his opponent, Chester Heathington, who had a record of misdemeanor offenses. He thumped his Republican opposition in a tough election year for Democrats.
"When I ran as a Democrat in '74 it was a different Democratic Party than it is now," Knowles said about the switch. "My beliefs are still the same as they were. I really had not given it a whole lot of thought until the present time. Most of my immediate family are Republicans. My children are. My wife is."
Republicans also hold a 7-2 majority on the Hamilton County Commission.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.