Our important City Council

Chattanooga has a pretty good system for choosing our local city government officials.

The mayor is elected for a four-year term, with citywide voting.

Nine members of the City Council are elected for four-year terms by voters in their respective geographic districts.

The next Chattanooga city election is Tuesday, March 3.

On yesterday’s Free Press editorial page, we editorially recommended the re-election of Mayor Ron Littlefield. Today we comment on the candidates for the nine City Council districts.

District 1: Re-elect Linda Bennett

City Council Chairwoman Linda Bennett is running for re-election. She is opposed by Joe Graham and Deborah S. Scott. Voters in these precincts may vote in this contest: Lookout Valley 1 and 2, Moccasin Bend, Mountain Creek 1, 2 and 4, North Chattanooga 2 and Northwoods 5.

Councilwoman Bennett has served well and responsibly for the past four years and deserves re-election, with no disrespect for her two opponents.

Councilwoman Bennett has experience in sales and marketing, has worked with the North Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, is a founding member of the Northside Community Association and has been a hospital volunteer. She belongs to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

She has been diligent in her council work and reasonable in her judgment.

We believe her four years of good service justify her re-election.

District 2: Re-elect Sally Robinson

Councilwoman Sally Robinson is unopposed for re-election. Her District 2 includes Lupton City, North Chattanooga 1, Northgate, Northwoods 2, Riverview, and Stuart Heights 1 and 2.

She has been an effective and constructive member of the council. As a founding member of the Riverbend Festival and a volunteer on the Moccasin Bend Task Force, Walnut Street Bridge Restoration, Cornerstone Historic Preservation, Friends of the Moccasin Bend National Park, former director of the Arts & Education Council, and past executive director of the Chattanooga Downtown Business and Merchants Association, she has a long record of commendable community involvement.

A member of the City Council since 2001, she should be continued in that service.

District 3: George Patten and Pam Ladd

There are two good new candidates running to represent District 3 on the City Council. They are Pam Ladd and George Patten. Their district includes Dupont, Hixson 1, 2 and 3, Murray Hills and Northwoods 1, 3 and 4 precincts.

Ms. Ladd has had extensive civic experience as president of the Murray Hills Neighborhood Association, as a small-business owner and as a corporate executive with TVA and Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co.

Mr. Patten is former general manager of Sherman & Reilly Co., a wire mesh manufacturer. He is now a real estate broker. He has been active with Goodwill Industries, Boys & Girls Club, YMCA and United Way.

We believe either Mr. Patten or Ms. Ladd would serve well.

District 4: Re-elect Jack Benson

Councilman Jack Benson is unopposed for re-election in his district. That suggests voter satisfaction with his dedicated service. District 4 includes Concord 1 and 2, East Brainerd 1 and 2, Ooltewah 3, Summit 1 and Tyner 1.

Councilman Benson served well for 35 years in the Chattanooga public school system, as a teacher, principal of several schools and then as system-wide assistant to the superintendent until his retirement from the schools. He subsequently became executive director of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association and has served on a number of civic and educational boards.

He has been vice chairman and chairman of the City Council. A conscientious good citizen, Mr. Benson deserves re-election.

District 5: Councilman Russell Gilbert

Councilman Russell Gilbert is unopposed for election for a four-year term on the City Council, having filled a vacancy. District 5 includes voters in Bonny Oaks, Dalewood, Eastgate 1, Kingspoint, Lake Hills and Woodmore precincts.

Mr. Russell has served as food service director for Parkridge Valley Hospital and in many volunteer youth and community activities.

He is particularly concerned with fighting local crime.

He has been a worthy member of the City Council and deserves a vote of approval to continue his service.

District 6: Carol Berz and Marti Rutherford

The contest between former City Councilwoman Marti Rutherford and current City Councilwoman Carol Berz in District 6 is a peculiar — and troublesome — one. Their district includes these voting precincts: Airport 1, 2 and 4, Brainerd, Brainerd Hills, Concord 3, Eastgate 2, Sunnyside, and Tyner 2 and 4.

Both candidates are ladies of obvious ability and dedication to our community. We respect them both. Former Councilwoman Rutherford got into a controversial situation as a result of the drawing of district lines, in effect gerrymandering her out of her familiar district. She established “two residences,” one “in” and the other “out” of District 6, justifiably raising questions. So she left office under a cloud and Mrs. Berz was chosen to fill the vacancy. Now Councilwoman Berz is being challenged by former Councilwoman Rutherford, who has established her residence clearly in District 6.

We hope the mess is over. But one lady will be chosen and the other will be defeated on March 3. Both candidates are personally quite accomplished and capable. We believe former Councilwoman Rutherford is more conservative than Councilwoman Berz in philosophy. So we lean to Mrs. Rutherford for the City Council, with no disrespect for Councilwoman Berz.

District 7: Re-elect Manny Rico

Councilman Manny Rico is running for re-election in District 7. It includes Alton Park, Cedar Hill, East Lake, Howard, Piney Woods, Ridgedale, and St. Elmo 1 and 2 precincts.

Councilman Rico has two opponents: Mahmood Abdullah and Clifford Eberhardt. We believe Councilman Rico strongly deserves re-election on the basis of his good character, good judgment and good service.

He is a very fine, dedicated and practical businessman. He has had a wide variety of constructive civic involvements, such as Sertoma Club president and board member of such organizations as Blood Assurance, American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, Moccasin Bend Mental Health Association, Hamilton County Health Council, Boy Scouts, Homeless Coalition, Southeast Tennessee Development Board, Human Rights Commission and more.

This breadth of civic activity, his intelligence and good attitude have made him a valuable member of the City Council. We believe he should be re-elected.

District 8: Re-elect Leamon Pierce

Councilman Leamon Pierce is a longtime, valuable, independent-minded member of the City Council, who has applied practicality, common sense and his typical frankness to be a good representative in our city government.

He is opposed in the March 3 election by Dennis Milton Clark and Andrae McGary. Both of them seem to be bright young men, but we believe Councilman Pierce offers far more in representing District 8. It includes Avondale, Clifton Hills 1 and 2, Courthouse, Downtown, and East Side 1 and 2 precincts.

Councilman Pierce has quite personally worked for economic progress and fought crime in his district, voted to cut taxes and promoted neighborhood associations and streetscaping.

You can always know exactly where Councilman Pierce stands, and he is clearly for a progressive Chattanooga.

District 9: Peter Murphy and J.T. McDaniel

There are more candidates for City Council in District 9 than in any other district. All of them are quite noteworthy. They are Quenston A. Coleman, J.T. McDaniel, Thomas L. Mott, Peter B. Murphy and Jackie Thomas.

Their district includes Amnicola, Avondale, Bushtown, East Chattanooga, Eastdale, Glenwood, Highland Park, Missionary Ridge and Orchard Knob.

Among the several good candidates, we believe either Mr. Murphy or Mr. McDaniel might be best equipped to provide effective service on the basis of their professional experience and accomplishments.

Mr. Murphy is an attorney. He is a bright young man who has as his top priorities neighborhood safety, diverse economic development and government accountability. He is obviously mentally sharp and vigorous in his approach to city government.

Mr. McDaniel is impressive as a free enterpriser, who started with $500 and has been successfully involved in several varied community businesses. His active personality and his personal desire to expand economic opportunities recommend him.

We must say that Mr. Coleman, Mr. Mott and Mrs. Thomas have made impressive presentations of their candidacies, too.

We commend all of the District 9 candidates but recommend either Mr. McDaniel or Mr. Murphy.

We applaud all of the candidates in all of the districts for offering their services. We believe the nine who will be elected should be able to serve Chattanooga responsibly, constructively and well.