Chattanooga City Attorney Phil Noblett is seeking a ruling in Hamilton County Circuit Court to determine whether council member Demetrus Coonrod is eligible to continue representing her district.
An anonymous message sent to Noblett, City Auditor Stan Sewell and members of the City Council last month alleged Coonrod does not live in Chattanooga city limits, which would make her ineligible to continue to sit on the panel. Sewell began investigating the complaint in March at the request of the city attorney.
Coonrod provided an affidavit declaring under oath she is a resident of her council district and has always maintained full-time residency during her service as a council member, according to a court filing made Monday. She also issued a statement to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
The allegation that I do not reside within the district is not only absurd but insulting to constituents’ intelligence,” the statement said. “These accusations are nothing more than a smear campaign orchestrated by those who fear real progress. I have diligently complied with the city auditor’s request despite facing consistent harassment and bullying tactics due to political motivations.”
Coonrod is a two-term member of the Chattanooga City Council who was first elected in 2017, ousting incumbent Yusuf Hakeem. This August, she is challenging Hakeem in the Democratic primary for his seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives.