After a nearly 90-minute question-and-answer session, the new Chattanooga City Council approved the dozen or so officials who make up Mayor Andy Berke’s cabinet for his new term in office, as required by the city charter.
Before the council members settled the mayor’s leadership positions, they took care of their own, electing councilmen Jerry Mitchell and Ken Smith to serve as the body’s chairman and vice-chairman, respectively.
The positions include leaders of various city departments, the city court clerk and the city attorney. Except for Tina Camba, appointed to direct the Human Resources Department, all other officials have held their posts months or even years. Camba has served as her department’s interim director for a number of months.
It was Lurone Jennings, administrator of the Youth and Family Development Department, however, who faced some of the most intense scrutiny of the evening.
Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod, one of the council’s newest faces, showed relentless energy in getting publicly acquainted with the mayor’s leadership team.