Chattanooga picks new mayor today
Chattanooga’s three undecided municipal elections will be decided Tuesday, with runoffs for mayor and two open city council seats. Polls will be open to registered city voters from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know to vote:
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?
During the city’s March 2 general election, the mayor’s seat and each of the nine City Council seats were open at the end of their four-year terms. Of those 10 seats, the mayoral, District 2 and District 5 elections entered runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, which is the threshold to win outright in the general election.
Now, business owner Tim Kelly and former River City
Co. president and CEO Kim White are facing off to replace outgoing Mayor Andy Berke, who will leave office next week.
Kelly and White were the two top vote-getting candidates in the field of 15 originally appearing on the ballot for the seat.
In District 2, Hamilton County Board of Education member Jenny Hill and business owner Thomas Lee are competing to represent the council district as Councilman Jerry Mitchell prepares to retire.
Hill and Lee were the two top vote-getters in the race of three candidates originally vying for the District 2 seat, which represents neighborhoods including North Chattanooga and Riverview.
In District 5, Hamilton County Democratic Party Vice Chairman Dennis Clark and Pastor Isiah Hester are in a race to replace Councilman Russell Gilbert, who was defeated in the general mayoral election.
Clark and Hester were the two top candidates in a race of five vying for the District 5 seat, which represents neighborhoods including Bonny Oaks and Dalewood.
Each of the people elected will begin a four-year term beginning after their inauguration on April 19.