Katherlyn Geter seeks Democratic nomination for District 5 seat on Hamilton County Commission

Katherlyn Geter is running for the District 5 seat on the Hamilton County Commission.
Katherlyn Geter is running for the District 5 seat on the Hamilton County Commission.

Katherlyn Geter has announced she is seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 5 seat on the Hamilton County Commission.

Geter said in a news release she made her announcement on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day "in honor of those that have served and a commitment to continue to advocate for lasting change within our communities, education and health care system."

She holds a degree in human service management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has more than 17 years of experience overseeing programs that help people understand health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid and the federal insurance marketplace.

Geter was recognized as a White House "Champion of Change" in 2012, part of President Barack Obama's "Winning the Future" initiative, for her work helping people acquire insurance under the Affordable Care Act. She earned the Barbara Reynolds Don't Accept "No" Leadership Award for her work on health care. She also serves on the Chattanooga Mayor's Council on Women's' Health Care Subcommittee.

The mother of two sons, Geter is a member and health and wellness leader at Mount Canaan Baptist Church and also was named a faith-based health ambassador through the Tennessee Office of Minority Health.

"Right now, our community needs a different look and mindset to have sustainable change within our communities, education and health care system. Government is and should be about the people it serves," Geter said in her announcement.

"I can be that Champion of Change in serving as County Commissioner for District 5 to bring relatability, connection, growth, partnerships to the community. It is a new year and time for a fresh start - new joys, new goals, new leadership, and new change!"

Geter has picked up nominating papers but had not qualified as of Monday.

She is mounting a primary challenge to Greg Beck, who is seeking re-election to a fourth term. He has qualified to run.

Also running in the Democratic primary is Isiah Hester, an associate minister and the owner of a commercial cleaning company, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2014. He has picked up papers but had not qualified as of Monday.

District 5 covers part of downtown and East Chattanooga north of Interstate 75 up to Harrison.

The qualifying deadline is Feb. 15. The voter registration deadline is April 2.

Early voting in the May 1 primary is April 11-26.

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