Hamilton County Trustee Carl Levi will face a challenger, County Commissioner Bill Hullander, for the office he has held since 2002.
"Bill Hullander's a nice man, and he has a right to run for anything he wants to," said Mr. Levi, a Republican. "I'm going to have to get out and work hard to be re-elected."
The trustee is tasked with collecting county property taxes and acting as county treasurer.
Mr. Levi, 77, already has picked up and returned qualifying papers to run again in the May election.
Mr. Hullander, 63, also a Republican, picked up papers Friday to run for the office. He officially will announce his candidacy this morning at the Country Place Restaurant on Shallowford Road.
"The timing is right for me," Mr. Hullander said. "My son has taken completely over our business that I started in '77. I'm too young to retire, and I want to stay active in political life. I think I can go into that office and be fair and equal to the employees and taxpayers of Hamilton County."
Mr. Hullander, who owns Hullco, a home exteriors enterprise, said he has accomplished most of what he wanted to do as a commissioner in District 9.
He said he would be "a new set of eyes and a new set of ears" in the trustee's office and touted his business experience. Mr. Hullander said he would have run whether Mr. Levi was running for re-election or not.
ELECTION DATES* Feb. 18: Qualifying deadline for May primary* April 5: Last day voters can register for county primary* April 14-29: Early voting in primary* May 4: County primary* July 6: Last day voters can register for county general election* July 16-31: Early voting in county general election* Aug. 5: County general
Mr. Levi noted that he was selected as Tennessee trustee of the year last year.
"I feel like I'm doing something right," he said.
Mr. Levi formerly was the city treasurer for the city of Chattanooga.
County school board member Chester Bankston said he plans to run for Mr. Hullander's commission seat, but he has not yet picked up qualifying papers. He said he also will announce his candidacy this morning at the restaurant.