Carol Berz was elected to Chattanooga City Council with only 29% of the vote in a special election in 2008, but nobody laid a glove on her after that.
She was elected to a full term with 69% of the vote in 2009 and was so respected by her District 6 constituents that she was elected unopposed in 2013, 2017 and 2021. Indeed, she was unopposed when she qualified last week for a fifth four-year term in the March 2025 city election.
But Berz died suddenly last week, not only leaving her seat open but closing the door on an accomplished career in public service for the city and in private practice and teaching in mediation, law, employment, labor/management conflicts and ethics.
She was the owner and chief executive officer of Private Dispute Resolution and led its mediation services and training programs.
Since Berz’s death, she often has been referred to as “a force of nature.” A few of her associations tell why.