Red Bank Mayor John Roberts attends an event at the Tennessee Riverpark to announce the Mayors’ Smoke Free Community initiative on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, in Chattanooga.Former Red Bank Mayor John Roberts picked up nominating papers for this year’s District 2 school board race from the Hamilton County Election Commission Monday.
Roberts is working to get his name on the ballot and a chance to unseat incumbent board member Kathy Lennon, who also picked up candidate qualifying papers Monday.
Roberts was elected Red Bank mayor in 2012 after serving as the town’s vice mayor.
During his tenure, Red Bank saw increased development and new construction as the town capitalized on its proximity to downtown and Chattanooga’s growing North Shore. While serving on the Red Bank commission, Roberts championed updating the city’s zoning ordinance in an effort to balance development with Red Bank’s small community feel.
In 2018, he announced that he would not run for re-election. But now, Roberts has his eyes set on Hamilton County’s Board of Education because he’s “frustrated” at what he sees as a lack of leadership on the board, he said.