Carol Berz’s daughter, 4 others pull paperwork for Chattanooga City Council seat

Staff photo by Abby White / Council members gather Dec. 17, 2024, to honor the late Carol Berz. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Berz, who died last week. Staff photo by Abby White / Council members gather Dec. 17, 2024, to honor the late Carol Berz. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Berz, who died last week.

By Mariah Franklin December 17, 2024 3 min read

Days after the death of longtime Chattanooga City Council member Carol Berz left a vacancy on the panel, five people — including her daughter, Jenni Berz — have moved to run for her spot.

A list from the Hamilton County Election Commission of people who have pulled petitions to run in Chattanooga’s March 4 elections named Jenni Berz, along with Jennifer Gregory, Christian Siler, Cherie Thompson and Robert C. Wilson as candidates for Carol Berz’s seat. As of press time Tuesday, only Gregory had returned the petition.

The council may appoint someone to fill Berz’s empty seat before the election. That person will hold the seat until the winner of the March race is sworn into office.

The election commission lists noon Thursday as the deadline to qualify for the March race. Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Scott Allen said by phone that candidates will need to collect 25 signatures from residents of the district by the deadline.

Photo Gallery

Chattanooga City Council memorial service for Carol Berz

Staff photo by Abby White / Council member Jenny Hill speaks Dec. 17, 2024, about the late Carol Berz, wearing Berz's iconic black turtle neck in her memory. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Berz, who died last week.

Staff photo by Abby White / Council Member Carol Berz's seat adorned in flowers to honor her time on the City Council. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Carol Berz, who passed last week, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Staff photo by Abby White / State Rep. Yusuf Hakeem speaks Dec. 17, 2024, about the late Carol Berz. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Berz, who died last week.

Staff photo by Abby White / City Council member Darrin Ledford speaks Dec. 17, 2024, about the late Carol Berz. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Carol Berz, who passed last week, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Staff photo by Abby White / Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly speaks Dec. 17, 2024, about the late Carol Berz. The Chattanooga City Council held a memorial service for Berz, who died last week.

Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / City council member Carol Berz, who died last week, is seen at a Chattanooga City Council meeting in 2023.

If Berz’s death had come after the deadline, he said, the election commission could have reopened the petition process. Because her death came before Thursday, he said, there won’t be any extension.