Finishing three-month term, Hope running for four years on Council

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope Jr. just won a three-month term on the Oak Ridge City Council, and now he’s running for a regular four-year term in the Nov. 6 election.

A longtime local businessman, Hope won the special three-month term in the Aug. 2 county election. He defeated Trina Baughn, who is also running in the November election.

It was the first run for a political office for both candidates.

Hope was appointed to Council after former member Tom Hayes resigned in June 2011.

Other candidates in the November election are incumbents Charlie Hensley and Ellen Smith and challenger Kelly Callison.

In a press release, Hope said he is known for his community involvement and support. He has served on the board of directors for the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as on the Oak Ridge Beer Permit Board.

Hope said he has participated in many activities as a member of the Chamber of Commerce since 2004. In 2008, he was appointed to the board of directors and was named the vice-chair of organizational value as well as a member of the housing advisory committee. In 2009, he was elected as the chair-elect and served on the Tech 2020 board.

In 2010, Hope became the chairman of the chamber’s board. He worked with Chamber President Parker Hardy and then-interim City Manager Gary Cinder on a contract between the city and the chamber, “updating it from a yearly contract to a three-year term contract with new measurables and a scope-of-work,” the press release said.

Hope said the city’s relationship with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Partnership must continue to grow and adapt.

“The dynamics of the business world are always changing,” he said. “Every town, city, and county surrounding us has aggressively adapted. Therefore, we must work even harder in order to recruit industry, retain jobs, and entice retail.”

Hope said City Council had three planning sessions in the past year to set goals and parameters.

“Part of our goal is increased retail activity, something we’ve been aggressively seeking as evidenced in the recent announcements of such retail stores and restaurants as Aubrey’s, a bigger Panera Bread, and the new Kroger Marketplace now planned for central Oak Ridge,” Hope said.

More is needed, however.

“In addition to retail, we must continue marketing Oak Ridge as a great place to live and raise our families,” Hope said. “That means good schools and great infrastructure. We must decide as a city if we are willing to pay the price necessary to provide our children with a great education. We have to work closely with the school board to find common ground.”

Hope has owned Chuck’s Car Care Center on Oak Ridge Turnpike for 30 years. He graduated from the Oak Ridge school system and attended Roane State Community College. He graduated from Leadership Oak Ridge in 2005 and graduated from the Management Success Program in 2004, the press release said.

Since becoming a City Council member, Hope said he has completed the Elected Officials Academy I and II of the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service. The EOA is a program designed exclusively for elected municipal officials.

Hope said he is the only elected city official to complete both academies.

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mushroomcloud

In addition to retail, we must continue marketing Oak Ridge as a great place to live and raise our families,” Hope said. “That means good schools and great infrastructure. We must decide as a city if we are willing to pay the price
necessary to provide our children with a great education. We have to work closely with the school board to find common ground.”
well you lost my when you came out against the new Senior Center in Oak Ridge and voted for sand traps for Centennial Golf course way to spend taxpayer dollars. I guess Tom Behan will get his buddies to oput you back in office maybe the Chamber will vote you in..
All over Oak Ridge there are busuinesses viiolating the ADA wheelchair accessibility laws. Yesterday I had a young person complain to about the doors on the Double Tree bathrooms. Yes this is a ADA public access law.
I spent $1200 at my dentist and had to park illegally.
So you want people to vote for you!!!!
Why not get the school children to vote for you???
- MW224
  
  Ok, I have a few responses to you mushroomcloud. The city is not responsible for ADA access on private buildings. You take offense to the city using funds from a fund set aside for the golf course (which was purposed) and there is specific funding that is needed for the schools. I know the senior center may have been an item near and dear to your heart, but beyond popular belief, oak ridge is not ONLY comprised of retirees, but there are those of us who do work full time, have children, and it is not only common, but a common expectation that local tax funds support the school system.
  
  So…I like Chuck Hope. He is a local and a businessman..not an attorney and that seems to be commonfare for those running for office. Frank won in the county and good luck to a small business owner being re-elected to public office. The parents with school children WILL vote for Chuck..and as a matter of fact, I see quite a few people who are retired in town that use his business. He keeps good records of your vehicles, does pickup and drop off in town, and supports the community in his business and in the council.
  
  If you have a problem with a business’ lack of accessibility which is required under the ADA, tell the business manager, owner, etc., give them an opportunity to address it, if nothing happens you have two choices..quit frequenting that business…or sue. That’s what everyone else does. I would rather Chuck keep working to bring business and jobs in…not play codes enforcer.