Hamilton County Commission appoints new state rep, considers other spending

photo Marc Gravitt

Hamilton County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously decided to let East Ridge Councilman Marc Gravitt start his new job as District 30 state representative early.

Starting today, Gravitt will replace Vince Dean, who was elected Hamilton County Criminal Court clerk. The interim appointment technically lasts until the November election, but Gravitt won the Republican nomination for the post in August and faces no Democratic opponent.

The commissioners made the appointment during a recessed meeting.

After the meeting, Gravitt thanked the commission and residents.

"I'm humbled by the confidence that the County Commission has shown for voting unanimously to appoint me to District 30 and to the citizens for electing me to serve," Gravitt said.

District 30 starts at East Ridge and travels east along the state line out to parts of Collegedale and Apison to the Bradley County line. Gravitt said it is one of the most diverse districts in Hamilton County's delegation, and he hopes to represent everyone.

"There is a wide range of social demographics there and I'm going to do my best to represent the district as a whole," he said.

Gravitt will finish his term as an East Ridge councilman, but he will not seek re-election to the local post.

During an agenda session afterward, commissioners considered paying $48,000 to a company called Thinking Media to fund an educational program for the county's middle-schoolers.

Mayor Jim Coppinger asked the commission to consider funding a STEM -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- program that aims to connect students with technical careers at at early age.

The program, called Learning Blade, would provide training for teachers and Internet-based software to guide students toward science-based careers through game-style educational activities.

Sheila Boyington, president of Thinking Media, told commissioners the program also aimed to attract students to STEM jobs who traditionally have not taken that path.

"Our goal here is to move the needle on getting more kids interested in these careers," she said. "We have some very unique strategies that motivate minorities and girls toward STEM careers as well."

Commissioner Tim Boyd asked why the commission was considering paying for a curriculum-based program. He said that was the job of the school board.

Boyington said the school board had planned to pay for it but private funding for a grant fell through at the last minute.

Boyington said she expects the schools will provide the funding next year.

Commissioner Joe Graham, who chairs the finance committee, said he supported a one-time payment.

"This gives every seventh-grade student an opportunity to know what different engineers do and really the opportunity to see what opportunities are out there," he said. "I don't see a downside."

Commissioners also heard a resolution to pay a $60,000 settlement to John Doub, who was struck by a county ambulance while riding a bicycle near Erlanger in May 2012.

"We've been through a mediation and this settlement, $60,000, we recommend to you all as being reasonable," County Attorney Rheubin Taylor told commissioners.

Commissioners will vote on the spending items Wednesday.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, at @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

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