Chattanooga Prepares for Competitive City Elections with 26 Candidates on the Ballot

Chattanooga Gears Up for Exciting City Elections!

Chattanooga is buzzing with excitement as the clock ticks down to the city elections on March 4, 2024. With a whopping 26 candidates vying for 10 elected offices, including the all-important mayoral seat and nine city council positions, it’s shaping up to be quite the showdown!

Who’s in the Running?

According to the latest scoop from the Hamilton County Election Commission, the deadline for candidates to qualify was last Thursday at noon. And boy, did they deliver! Candidates have until December 26 at noon to decide if they want to pull out of the race. So, keep your eyes peeled for any last-minute changes!

Mark your calendars, folks! The election commission will finalize the list of candidates during their meeting on January 15. Scott Allen, the Hamilton County Administrator of Elections, shared that the number of contenders is pretty standard for these city elections, particularly in districts without an incumbent. “Those districts usually attract a lot of attention,” he explained.

Mayoral Matchup

Now, let’s talk about the mayoral race! This time around, it looks a lot less crowded than in 2020 when a whopping 16 candidates were in the mix. Incumbent Mayor Tim Kelly is gearing up for reelection and will face off against challenger Chris Long. Remember, Kelly calmly claimed victory against Kim White in the runoff back in April 2021. So, it seems he knows a thing or two about winning elections!

Council Races Heating Up

The fireworks don’t stop there! Over in District 5, where council member Isiah Hester currently holds the fort, five hopefuls are throwing their hats in the ring. Dennis Clark, Cory Hall, Cynthia Stanley-Cash, and Samantha Reid-Hawkins will all be competing for the keys to the district. Unfortunately for contestant Leanne Jones, her petition didn’t cut it with the required 25 signatures.

District 8 Showdown

Moving to District 8, it’s a fierce battle between four candidates, including council member Marvene Noel and challengers Anna Golladay, Doll Sandridge, and Kelvin Scott. Keep an eye on that one!

A Council Chair in the Spotlight

In District 3, Chip Henderson, the current City Council Chair representing Lookout Valley, will take on challenger James “Skip” Burnette. Down in East Brainerd, Darrin Ledford is bowing out, leaving the District 3 seat open for both Tim Boyd and Cody Harvey.

What’s Happening in District 9?

As for the District 9 seat being vacated by two-term council member Demetrus Coonrod, it’s a hotly contested race with three candidates: Ron Elliott, Evelina Kertay, and Letechia Ellis throwing their names into the mix. Safe streets advocate Jon Jon Wesolowski initially expressed interest but has since exited the race.

The Council is Shaping Up

In a rather bittersweet turn of events, the late council member Carol Berz had also qualified to run again, but now her seat will have other candidates vying for it. Jenni Berz, her daughter, is one of five contenders for that position.

Who’s Unopposed?

Now, if you’re wondering, there are a few smooth sailing candidates. Council members Jenny Hill from North Chattanooga and Raquetta Dotley from East Lake are facing absolutely no challengers. Talk about a breezy campaign!

As we gear up for this exciting election season, make sure your voice is heard! After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on casting your vote for the future of our beloved city of Chattanooga!