Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey, D-Bluff View, is running for a sixth term in the District 4 seat after two decades in office.
The district encompasses Chattanooga’s downtown and some of the densest neighborhoods surrounding it, including Fort Wood, Orchard Knob, Highland Park, Ridgedale and Avondale. Mackey will face Democratic challenger Elea Wright, a businesswoman who lives in Ridgedale, in the May primary. It’s Mackey’s fourth time running in a contested primary.
Mackey, 76, has lived in Chattanooga his whole life. Now retired, he taught history at Chattanooga State Community College. He has a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University and a doctorate in history from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives near the Bluff View Art District.
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At the beginning of 2026, Mackey had about $9,500 on hand in campaign funds. The majority of his donations — about $11,000 worth — have come from developers and contractors so far, alongside $1,000 from insurance agency Ken Harpe and Associates and $1,900 from convenience store Kanku’s Express. South Broad developer Perimeter Properties, which owns about 120 acres around the new Lookouts stadium, recently gave Mackey $1,000.
His largest donations amounting to about $3,800 total come from Nancy and Pat Neuhoff, who own Chattanooga-based Neuhoff Taylor Architects. The company has designed dozens of projects across the city, including schools and county buildings, as well as the condos where Mackey lives.
Early voting for the county primaries starts April 15, and election day is May 5.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press sent a questionnaire to both candidates in the race. The answers below are in their own words.
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Q: Why are you running for County Commission, and what are your qualifications?
A: I am running for reelection because I believe deeply in the future of Hamilton County and District 4, and in the responsibility of experienced leadership to guide that future. This community is not just where I serve. It is home.
During my time on the County Commission, I have helped oversee significant growth, expanding economic opportunity, investing in infrastructure and prioritizing education at every level.
My qualifications are grounded in experience and education. I hold a doctorate of arts in history and spent more than 30 years as a professor of history at Chattanooga State Community College, working directly with students from this community who simply needed someone in their corner. That combination of academic service and civic leadership allows me to approach every challenge thoughtfully and remain fully accountable to the people I am honored to serve.
Q: If elected, what would be your three biggest priorities?
A: My priorities reflect the needs of today and the long-term future of District 4:
1. Economic development. I will support policies that invest in infrastructure, strengthen our workforce and attract industries that provide stable, good-paying jobs and real opportunity for families in this district.
2. Educational opportunity. Education is at the heart of everything I do. I will fight for equitable school funding, expand access to vocational and technical education and support career pathways like the Construction Career Center that open doors to skilled trades careers right here in Chattanooga.
3. Affordable housing. I will advance policies that support affordable housing development, strengthen public health systems and invest in services that help families live, work and thrive where they are.
Q: What do you think is the largest challenge facing your district, and what would you do about it if elected?
A: The greatest challenge facing District 4 is ensuring that growth benefits everyone. As our county continues to expand, we must be intentional about how that growth touches the lives of longtime residents, working families and historically underserved communities.
If reelected, I will continue to focus on balanced, equitable development. That means supporting affordable housing initiatives, investing in workforce programs that connect our people to opportunity and advocating for long-term planning that genuinely reflects the needs and voices of this community. Growth should never come at the expense of the very folks who built this district. It should create pathways to stability and success for every family in District 4.
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Q: Do you think the county needs to attract more industry to the area? Why or why not, and how should that be done?
A: Attracting industry must be done strategically and responsibly, focused on industries that align with our workforce, offer quality wages and benefits and contribute to long-term economic stability. That means investing in infrastructure, strengthening education and job training and maintaining a business climate that encourages innovation while protecting our community.
A strong example is the Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Academy on Chattanooga’s Westside, a skilled trades career center connecting residents directly to in-demand jobs and attracting employers who value a work-ready local workforce.
Economic development is not simply about recruiting new companies. It is about building a sustainable ecosystem where businesses grow and residents prosper alongside them.
Q: Where would you increase county spending? Where would you cut it?
A: I believe in targeted investment paired with sound fiscal stewardship.
I would prioritize increased funding in the areas that have the most direct impact on quality of life and long-term growth, including education, infrastructure, workforce development and public health. These are not simply expenses. They are investments in the future of our community and in the people who live here.
At the same time, I have never been one to rubber-stamp a budget. I will continue to evaluate spending proposals carefully, root out inefficiencies where they exist and make certain that every dollar delivers clear and measurable value to the hardworking taxpayers of Hamilton County.
Q: What do you think is Hamilton County’s most pressing infrastructure need? How would you respond to that need?
A: Our infrastructure priorities are twofold: modernizing our transportation network and making long-overdue investments in our school facilities.
Safe, reliable roads are essential to daily life and economic development. I have supported significant road improvements and will continue advocating for funding that keeps pace with our growth.
But when I think about the true responsibility of government, I think first about our children. Too many students in District 4 are sitting in buildings that have outlived their usefulness. Orchard Knob Middle School has a wonderful community, dedicated teachers and committed families, but the building no longer serves our students the way they deserve. I have advocated for a new Orchard Knob Middle School for years, and I will not stop until we get it built.
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Q: Do you think your district is growing too fast or too slow? Why?
A: District 4 is experiencing real and meaningful growth, and that growth brings both opportunity and responsibility.
The question I ask is not whether growth is too fast or too slow. The question is whether we are managing it wisely. Growth must be guided by thoughtful planning, honest conversation with the community and an unwavering commitment to equity.
Handled well, growth brings new investment, better infrastructure and expanded opportunity for everyone. My focus has always been and will remain on making sure that development strengthens our neighborhoods rather than displacing the people who built them, and that every corner of District 4 shares in the benefits of Hamilton County’s progress.
Q: Anything else you’d like voters to know?
A: District 4 is a community defined by its people, by the families, neighborhoods and shared history that make it unlike anywhere else. From downtown Chattanooga to Avondale, Bushtown, East Chattanooga and beyond, this district represents the heart and the future of Hamilton County.
I am proud of what we have accomplished together: investing in our schools, supporting economic growth, improving infrastructure and standing up for fairness and accountability at every turn. But there is still important work ahead, and I do not take that lightly.
All my years in the classroom at Chattanooga State taught me one truth I carry with me every single day: People succeed when they are supported, seen and genuinely invested in. That is the same conviction I bring to every decision I make on the County Commission. I remain committed to listening to my neighbors, leading with integrity and ensuring that every resident of District 4 has a real opportunity to succeed.
Contact city and county reporter Siena Duncan at sduncan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.
