Chattanooga: Mayor to announce bid for re-election

Mayor Ron Littlefield will announce his bid for re-election on the steps of City Hall at 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release.

Mr. Littlefield is seeking his second term as mayor.

“I am honored to have been your mayor for the past four years,” he said in a statement. “We have accomplished many things and with your help, we can continue to build upon these accomplishments.”

He faces opposition from Rob Healy, Joe Lance and Thomas Smith II.

The city election is March 3.

District 1 forum set for Tuesday

The North Chattanooga Council of the Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum for the three candidates running for City Council District 1, officials said.

Candidates in the race include current Councilwoman Linda Bennett and challengers Joe Graham and Deborah Scott.

The forum will be held at the Chamber council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday and begins at 11:45 a.m. in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. A catered lunch is available for $10.

District 1 includes North Chattanooga and Lookout Valley.

Rutherford launching campaign

Former Councilwoman Marti Rutherford will launch her campaign bid for the District 6 seat at 5 p.m. Tuesday, campaign officials said Friday.

Ms. Rutherford served three terms as District 6 councilwoman before giving up the seat in October 2007 after City Attorney Randy Nelson filed an ouster suit against her in Hamilton County Chancery Court, saying she lived in District 5 and could not legally fill the District 6 position.

In the current election, Ms. Rutherford is running against current Councilwoman Carol Berz.

The kickoff will be held at her headquarters on Lee Highway, and refreshments and snacks will be served, officials said. Her headquarters is located at One Park Place, 6148 Lee Highway, Suite 106B, across from Sam’s Club, officials said.

Raising expenses still on table

County Commissioner Bill Hullander said Tuesday that he still wants to look at raising the expenses of county commissioners even after an editorial blasting the idea came out in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

“I still hope we could get in line with other counties,” Mr. Hullander said.

The Chattanooga Times ran an editorial in Tuesday’s paper against the idea of an $8,000 raise in commissioners’ expenses.

Commissioner Warren Mackey said he also supported the idea of raising expenses.

“Sometimes travel can be expensive,” he said.

As for Times Editor Harry Austin, who wrote the editorial, Mr. Hullander said he would speak to him soon.

“I’ll take him out to lunch sometime,” he said.

Mayors say water OK

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey issued a joint statement last week saying that local water supplies have not been contaminated by the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill in Roane County.

Both mayors participated in a conference call Wednesday with TVA, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to the statement.

Tennessee-American Water Co. officials also said they had not found any evidence of contamination in the Chattanooga water supply, the release states.

In the statement, Mr. Littlefield said he has requested the city Department of Public Works to carry out periodic testing.