Former Chattanooga City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem says he will seek the District 28 state House seat now held by Rep. JoAnne Favors, D-Chattanooga, who announced her retirement this week.
“If elected, I will fight to ensure the residents of District 28 have opportunities for job training and affordable housing,” Hakeem said in a news release announcing his campaign. “Communities that are lacking in these areas are struggling to survive.”
He said that as a Chattanooga councilman, he worked with other council members, the Chamber of Commerce and others to bring more and better-paying jobs to the city and county.
“While we were successful in that effort, there is now a gap between workforce skills and employment opportunities,” Hakeem said.
The Howard High School and Chattanooga State graduate worked 25 years for General Electric, where he received the G.E. Community Service Award.