Cleveland, Tenn., city nickname contest stalls

Aerial view of Cleveland, Tenn., looking Southeast near I-75.

Photo by Dan Henry /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Picking a town nickname is tough. Just ask the Cleveland City Council.

Six months ago Mayor Tom Rowland suggested a contest to find Cleveland's nickname. A committee of local residents was set up to consider the nominations.

The winning nomination gets a $1,000 prize, donated by local folks.

"My only charge to the committee was that it be simple, concise, maybe raise a question," Rowland said.

After 1,827 nominations, submitted by emails, letters or faxes or scribbled on napkins or torn pieces of paper, Melissa Woody, the committee's chairwoman, brought the results to the council.

"Some were kind of general. Some were sarcastic," Woody said.

One person sent in 100 nominations. There were several other repeat nominators.

The committee got to see the nominations but not the name of the nominator. Members kept tabs on the date of submission. In case two people had the same thought but one came before the other.

The finalists?

"A City with Spirit," was suggested by one person, Woody said. Although several other people used similar words, none were in that sequence.

"Home Feel, Global Appeal," was nominated, too. The committee said this one was "inspired'' by a nomination. The original word was "international" but the committee thought "global" made it flow better.

Then it was up to the council, which didn't agree.

"Since we serve the public, maybe we should have more time for input from the public," suggested Councilman Richard Banks.

They already have 1,827 inputs from the public, Councilman Avery Johnson reminded him.

"With all the indecision, I think we need to postpone this," said Councilman Dale Hughes. The motion to do that, for two weeks, passed unanimously.

Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress or 423-314-1029.