Chattanooga: Mayor, council races kick off across city

Mayor Ron Littlefield kicked off his re-election campaign Tuesday inside City Hall, telling supporters that Chattanooga was poised to enter a “second Golden Age” and he wanted to help lead the city into that era.

“With that goal in mind and a clear strategy to get us there, let me declare that I am a candidate for re-election as mayor of Chattanooga,” Mr. Littlefield told more than 150 people packed inside the first floor of City Hall.

Mr. Littlefield focused his campaign speech on accomplishments within city neighborhoods, economic development, homeless issues and the building of the McKamey Animal Shelter. He also talked about the history of Chattanooga from its time as a declining metropolitan area to being one of the fastest-growing cities in Tennessee.

“We are destined to become one of the great and growing regions of the next 100 years, a rising star in the southern United States,” Mr. Littlefield said.

Besides Mr. Littlefield’s kickoff, mayoral candidate Rob Healy and District 6 City Council candidate Marti Rutherford also kicked their campaigns off Tuesday night. District 6 City Councilwoman Carol Berz announced her re-election bid Monday night.

Mr. Healy, the city’s former Parks and Recreation administrator, held a fundraiser on the Tennessee riverfront at Manker Patten Tennis Club. About 75 people attended the event, and Mr. Healy spoke to supporters around 6:30 p.m.

Before speaking, Mr. Healy said he was enthused about the support he was receiving. He said he would open a campaign headquarters next week and had assembled a staff. He considered briefly dropping out of the race because of not being able to assemble a staff and being behind in fundraising after a court battle with the Hamilton County Election Commission on whether he was qualified to run for office, he said.

“I’m very excited about the support, both financial and their time and talents,” Mr. Healy said.

Other mayoral candidates include Joe Lance and Thomas Smith II. Mr. Lance held his campaign kickoff on Dec. 9 at the Brainerd Recreation Center on North Moore Road.

Also on Tuesday night, across town on Lee Highway, former Councilwoman Rutherford held her campaign kickoff. Reached by phone, Ms. Rutherford said almost 50 people had attended the event. She said she was pleased with the turnout and wants to focus on advocating for District 6 voters.

“My constituents want me to run again,” she said.

Dr. Berz said her own kickoff on Monday at Eastgate Town Center drew probably about 150 people, and she felt enthusiasm and a feeling of hope among her supporters.

“What impressed me the most was the diversity,” she said. “There were Republicans and Democrats. The thing I left with was that we can be upbeat.”

As Mr. Littlefield completed his speech, he said he was pleased with the turnout.

“It’s a great crowd,” he said. “It’s a diverse crowd. It’s a cross section of the city of Chattanooga.”