A Hamilton County commissioner says his challenger this election cycle doesn’t live in the correct district. The challenger says there’s no merit to the accusation.
Incumbent Commissioner Joe Graham, R-Lookout Valley, is running against Democratic candidate Montrell Besley for the seat representing District 11, which encompasses Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, Alton Park, East Lake and parts of Missionary Ridge and Brainerd.
During candidate forums and in interviews with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Besley has said he was born and raised in Alton Park, a historically Black Chattanooga neighborhood, and he’s lived there all his life.
But in an interview, Graham said he doesn’t think Besley lives in Alton Park because of multiple phone calls and anonymous letters he’s received from constituents outlining their concerns about Besley’s residency. Graham said he thinks Besley lives in Hixson, which is outside of District 11.
“I actually live in the district,” Graham said during a Chattanooga National Action Network forum, which Besley also attended. “Not everybody can say that. They do say that, but it’s not true.”