Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

New Chattanooga City Council already rallying around issues

new-city-council-already-rallying-around
new-city-council-already-rallying-around new-city-council-already-rallying-around
photo Chris Anderson, District 7 candidate for Chattanooga City Commission, answers questions during a meeting with the Chattanooga Times Free Press editorial board.
photo Chip Henderson

The newly elected members of the Chattanooga City Council already have begun talking about the No. 1 issue they face when they are sworn in April 15.

“The big-ticket item right now is, of course, crime,” said Councilman-elect Chip Henderson.

The new council will have at least six new faces — seven if challenger Larry Grohn beats Councilman Jack Benson in the District 4 runoff. It will have one woman instead of four, and if Grohn wins, three self-proclaimed conservatives.

They’ll have a full agenda, from the spike in crime that police announced last week to the budget that Mayor-elect Andy Berke will propose in May.

The new council members say they see no problems working together because political affiliations go out the door when conducting city business.