By Angie Herrington
Staff Writer
Reducing crime and improving neighborhoods are among the issues for the four candidates in the Chattanooga City Council District 9 race.
The seat was vacated in January when Councilman Yusuf Hakeem resigned to accept an appointment from Gov. Phil Bredesen to the state’s Board of Probation and Parole.
The winner of Tuesday’s election will fill the seat until the term ends in 2009. The district includes precincts in Amnicola, Bushtown, East Chattanooga, Eastdale, Glenwood, Highland Park and Missionary Ridge.
Candidate Quenston A. Coleman, 53, a probation officer with the state of Tennessee, said he wants to improve neighborhood associations by creating grass-roots leadership so more residents can participate in local government.
He said that, if elected, he would resign from his present job, if necessary, to comply with a City Charter provision that says “no person, while holding any office or employment under the federal, state or county government, except the office of notary public, shall be eligible to any office under ... city government.”
Eric A. Colen Sr., 49, former president of the Glenwood Neighborhood Association and a retired Army major, said he has the leadership to be an effective councilman.
He said that while in the Army his experiences ranged from managing 37,000 soldier assignments in Washington, D.C., to overseeing equipment and personnel for a dining facility while company commander in Fort Campbell, Ky.
Debbie Gaines, 51, who has served 27 years in various county government positions, said her job experience will lend itself to being a city councilwoman. In November, she retired as a legislative administrator in the Hamilton County Commission office.
“I understand the government structure,” Ms. Gaines said.
Edward L. Williams Sr., 43, who owns Mobile Tek Furniture and Rentals on Glass Street, said he wants to improve health care for the elderly and help residents secure jobs.
“If we can find them jobs, I feel like we will cut down on a lot of crime and a lot of drugs,” he said.
According to campaign financial disclosure reports, Ms. Gaines is the only one of the four candidates whose contributions, for the first three months of the year, totaled more than $1,000 and/or expenses totaled more than $1,000.
E-mail Angie Herrington at aherrington@timesfreepress.com
Staff Writer
Reducing crime and improving neighborhoods are among the issues for the four candidates in the Chattanooga City Council District 9 race.
The seat was vacated in January when Councilman Yusuf Hakeem resigned to accept an appointment from Gov. Phil Bredesen to the state’s Board of Probation and Parole.
The winner of Tuesday’s election will fill the seat until the term ends in 2009. The district includes precincts in Amnicola, Bushtown, East Chattanooga, Eastdale, Glenwood, Highland Park and Missionary Ridge.
Candidate Quenston A. Coleman, 53, a probation officer with the state of Tennessee, said he wants to improve neighborhood associations by creating grass-roots leadership so more residents can participate in local government.
He said that, if elected, he would resign from his present job, if necessary, to comply with a City Charter provision that says “no person, while holding any office or employment under the federal, state or county government, except the office of notary public, shall be eligible to any office under ... city government.”
Eric A. Colen Sr., 49, former president of the Glenwood Neighborhood Association and a retired Army major, said he has the leadership to be an effective councilman.
He said that while in the Army his experiences ranged from managing 37,000 soldier assignments in Washington, D.C., to overseeing equipment and personnel for a dining facility while company commander in Fort Campbell, Ky.
Debbie Gaines, 51, who has served 27 years in various county government positions, said her job experience will lend itself to being a city councilwoman. In November, she retired as a legislative administrator in the Hamilton County Commission office.
“I understand the government structure,” Ms. Gaines said.
Edward L. Williams Sr., 43, who owns Mobile Tek Furniture and Rentals on Glass Street, said he wants to improve health care for the elderly and help residents secure jobs.
“If we can find them jobs, I feel like we will cut down on a lot of crime and a lot of drugs,” he said.
According to campaign financial disclosure reports, Ms. Gaines is the only one of the four candidates whose contributions, for the first three months of the year, totaled more than $1,000 and/or expenses totaled more than $1,000.
E-mail Angie Herrington at aherrington@timesfreepress.com
