After the Chattanooga City Council appointed her in March to serve the remainder of former Councilman Anthony Byrd’s term, Councilwoman Marvene Noel, of Orchard Knob, has announced plans to seek election to her District 8 seat in August.
Byrd vacated the seat in February in order to serve as City Court clerk under Mayor Tim Kelly’s administration.
“I have the heart and the mindset and want to continue to help in the neighborhood for improving our district and to help the underserved,” Noel told the Chattanooga Times Free Press in a telephone interview. “We’re so far behind on everything – just basic life needs that we need in order to have a good life.”
Noel said many residents in her district live in a food desert and don’t have ready access to nutritious meals, which contributes to health issues like heart conditions, asthma and obesity. Without a grocery store, people often rely on variety stores like the Dollar General or Family Dollar or fast-food chains, she said.
“It’s not healthy food,” she said. “It’s not fresh fruit, it’s not fresh vegetables, it’s just not healthy for us.”