Hamblen to spend time with family
Following her defeat at the hands of political rival Kenneth Rogers last week, County Executive Carol Hamblen says she will concentrate on finishing her term and spending time with her family before deciding on her new career.
“I think I’m just going to chill out for a while,” Hamblen said. “I’m going to go watch my daughter play soccer. I didn’t get to go to many games while I was county executive so I think I’ll catch up on that first.”
Hamblen was defeated by 1,700 votes by Rogers, the same opponent she dispatched by 20 votes in 1998 to win her first and only term of office.
“I think I took the hit for things that weren’t my fault,” Hamblen said, noting many people blamed her for the city pool issue which was a city initiative she had nothing to do with.
“They even blamed me for the pool,” Hamblen said. “I guess I took the heat for the aldermen in something that had nothing to do with me or the county.”
Hamblen pointed out she was in good company as 47 county executives and mayors were voted out Thursday across the state, nine of 14 in the Upper Cumberland alone.
“It was the year to blame everything on the incumbent,” Hamblen said. “People tend to vote on emotion and not logical reasoning. I’m proud of what we’ve done in these four years. We’ve received record grants to save the taxpayers here money, we’ve run water lines to people in the county so they can get water, and we’ve improved emergency services and homeland defense.”
Hamblen said the size of her loss was a surprise; however, she noted she would conduct the same campaign again.
“There were people who told me I had to sling mud and to get dirty,” Hamblen said. “If I have to throw mud, then there’s something wrong with that picture.”
Now looking at departure from her job of four years on Sept. 1, Hamblen said she plans to finish up her work and help in Rogers’ transition to the office. After that, Hamblen, a certified public accountant, said things are still in the air.
“I’ve already had a couple of offers but I told them it’s too soon, that I needed some time,” Hamblen said. “I’m the kind of person who does one thing at the time, and until Sept. 1, I have a commitment to the voters.”
As for a future run for the office, Hamblen said that would be a decision to be made down the road.
“I don’t know if I want to put my family through it, not only the election but the four years of being executive,” Hamblen said. “But, kind of like James Bond, I’ve learned never to say never.”