Erskine Oglesby Jr.

› Office sought: Mayor › PARTY: DEMOCRAT

› Previous public office experience:

Chattanooga City councilman District 7; chairman, vice chairman, chairman; Economic and Community Development.

› Why should voters choose you?

I have the vision, passion and the necessary professional experience to build a strong, innovative, diverse team to address the current, and future needs of Chattanooga. I will prioritize the creation of a comprehensive plan that will grow our neighborhoods while closing the economic divide that is equitable and inclusive.

› Biggest challenge facing the office you seek?

The economic recovery of small business and jobs is essential. The reinvestments in our challenging communities to maintain and grow opportunities for affordable housing.

› How will you address this challenge?

Economic recovery — strengthen support to existing small businesses and create opportunities for new entrepreneurs by providing resources assembled collaboratively with private sector and philanthropic institutions to provide expertise in the reimagining and implementation of a recovery. Create community revitalization and stabilization strategies to build strong neighborhood associations to provide input. Provide tools to property owners to prevent blight and abandonment and to help citizens stay in homes by making them energy efficient through special assistance program with partners.

› What policy position of yours might surprise people?

None.

› What past or current public servant do you most admire?

President Jimmy Carter. He exemplifies what a true servant leader is. He is about serving people first. He believes that public service is a responsibility that we all must embrace. He demonstrated true leadership through his commitment. › Campaign office address: PO Box 2666 › Campaign office phone: 601-813-7815 › Campaign office email: info@ erskineoglesby.com › Campaign office website: ErskineOglesby.com › Campaign Facebook: Facebook/ Erskine Oglesby › Campaign Twitter: › Campaign Instagram: › Phone: 601-813-7815 › Age on Election Day: 65 › Occupation: City councilman › Employer: City of Chattanooga › Education: Bachelor of Science degree, Tennessee State University/ Meharry Medical College in health care administration and planning. › Family: Married to Sheryl A. Oglesby, three grandsons, 1 great granddaughter. › Neighborhood of residence: Community Association of Historic St. Elmo › Civic involvement: Resurrected Reform Baptist Church; currently serves on the executive committee of the Southeast Tennessee Development District and the boards of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, Habitat for Humanities for Greater Chattanooga, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprises, Tivoli Foundation, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Prison Prevention Ministries, Chattanooga Area Employment Consortium; and is chairman of Mark Making, Kappa Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Tennessee State University Alumni Association. › Quote or saying I live by: “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.