Early voting starts Wednesday and runs through Feb. 27 in Chattanooga’s March 4 elections.
Incumbent Demetrus Coonrod is not running for reelection in district 9. Rob Elliot, Letechia Ellis and Evelina Iren Kertay are competing to fill her seat.
(READ MORE: Judge dismisses challenge to Chattanooga council member’s residency qualifications)
District 9
— Communities represented: Ridgeside, Glenwood, Forest Hills and Ridgedale
— Number of residents: 19,422, as of the 2020 U.S. Census
— Incumbent: Demetrus Coonrod is the incumbent and is not running for reelection.
— Key issues in the race: Growth, responsive government, economic development
— Duties of a council member: Council members are the city’s legislators. They levy and collect taxes, appropriate money to be spent by the city and pay city debts.
— Pay for position: Council member salaries are set at 15% of the city mayor’s salary. With Mayor Tim Kelly’s salary set at $196,100, council salaries amount to $29,415 yearly.
— Term begins: April 14
The Chattanooga Times Free Press asked all candidates in contested races to participate in a short survey covering aspects of their experiences. Here are district 9 council candidate responses to the newspaper’s questions:
Contributed photo / Ron Elliott is running for election to the Chattanooga City Council’s seat representing district 9.Ron Elliott
— Age: 28
— Years in district: Six
— Neighborhood of residence: Missionary Ridge
— Education: Bachelor’s degree in public policy and economics from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
— Occupation: Small business owner
— Experience/qualifications: “I have years of community and political organizing experience. I have worked in social services at the city, and I spent three years working in operations in city government, helping to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city. So I am very well aware of all the nooks and crannies of city government.”
— Family: Single
— Amount raised, per latest disclosure forms: $10,377
— Website or social media page: ronelliott.com
Why are you running? “I wanted to step up and pour most of my service into Chattanooga, because this place is unique, and it’s special, and it is a place that I’ve deeply fallen in love and accepted me without question. But when I look at the city, I genuinely feel like we’re coming up on a crossroads. We can go one way and the city can just take off and grow like crazy, but we are going to probably look back and find ourselves leaving a lot of people behind. But if we go another direction, and we can be thoughtful and intentional about how we change and evolve, we can leave fewer of our neighbors behind in the dust.”
Why should voters choose you? “I do feel confident that I have the experience and rapport with the community to do this job very well. I tell people throughout the district that, you know, this race can’t be just about me. It has to be about what we can do as a collective. And I know so that sounds cheesy and whatnot, but you know if we can really come together as communities and lean in on some of these issues, I feel confident that I’m in a position to help usher them into reality. I can’t do it by myself. I have to get the community bought in.”
Contributed photo / Letechia Ellis is running for election to the Chattanooga City Council’s seat representing district 9.Letechia Ellis
— Age: 50
— Years in district: 30
— Neighborhood of residence: Eastdale
— Education: Graduated from Chattanooga public schools, Allied School of Nursing, McKenzie College and Urban League Training and Technology Center
— Occupation: Pastor, emergency medical technician, small business owner of Tastee BBQ
— Experience/qualifications: “I have served in the community for 30 years as a license/ordained minister, currently a pastor for 10 years at the church I founded, Agent of Change Church. I’m a humanitarian. I send aid over to Kenya. I have several outreach ministries where I assist the needy by feeding the homeless, finding housing, assisting those who have been rehabilitated out of the system with counseling, jobs, housing. I also work with troubled teens and kids and special needs and mentally ill individuals, giving out food boxes, clothes, pay utilities.”
— Family: Married, with four sons, one daughter and four grandchildren
— Amount raised, per latest disclosure forms: None filed
— Website or social media page: Letechia Ellis on Facebook
Why are you running? “I’m running because I have what it take to get results. I’m a servant who serves people, not looking to be served. I meet them right where they are. I’m experienced with dealing with people from all walks of life and the tough issues that have impacted and invaded our community and neighb0rhoods from all walks of life. I want better for our people and our district.”
Why should voters choose you? “Voters should choose me because for 30 years I have proven leadership, for 30 years. I’ve already been on the ground advocating being a strong voice, guiding, motivating, serving as a midwife, helping people to push out their dreams, reach their goals, change their lives. I’ve put words to action by sitting down with gang members trying to instill in them to put down guns and pick up love in order to bring peace to our city.”
Contributed photo / Evelina Kertay is running for the Chattanooga City Council’s seat representing district 9.Evelina Iren Kertay
— Age: 23
— Years in district: Two
— Neighborhood of residence: Glenwood
— Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science and public policy from UTC
— Occupation: Deli/grocery store employee
— Experience/qualifications: “I have a degree in public policy. I have been an activist in the community through legislative advocacy for over half a decade. I’ve had a piece of legislation I helped write introduced to the state legislature. That was through the Tennessee intercollegiate state legislature, which is a college competition.”
— Family: Single
— Amount raised, per latest disclosure forms: None filed
— Website or social media page: evelinairenk.wixsite.com/home
Why are you running? “I’m running because I’ve seen the poverty and desperation we have in our city. We have a system that places the needs of wealthy interests over the working class, and I believe only a socialist working class movement can defeat that. I want to feed the hungry, house the homeless, educate the undereducated and love the unloved.”
Why should voters choose you? “I know what it’s like. I’m a working person just like you. I also have the knowledge and skills. I have a direct policy plan to address the needs of the people.”
Contact Joan McClane at jmcclane@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6601.