Independent candidate Andrew McLaren is running for mayor of Chattanooga in hopes of bridging community disparities with fruit trees and police pay raises.
McLaren, a former actor and Marine turned private investigator, told the Times Free Press that he is seeking the office to help create equity across communities within the city by thinking outside of the box.
“I think I can unify wealthy people who I might be in a cigar bar smoking with, a judge or a lawyer or someone who owns a golf course, and have them listening to a Tupac album,” McLaren, 39, said while smoking a cigar outside of the Bayberry apartments in Avondale where he had been doing outreach. “And then I can bring it back to the community and channel it in a synergistic and positive way.”
McLaren said a key issue in his campaign is reaching out to the neighborhoods that need the most “help” in the city, including mentorship programs, economic empowerment classes and other innovative approaches to crime and poverty.
“So one of my ideas that’s a little bit outside of the box is I want to plant fruit trees [in low-income neighborhoods],” McLaren said. “We can sell them to people and they get a little plaque. So I might sell one to some rich guy out in Lookout Mountain and say if you pay $1,000, you get a plaque and donate a tree. And it will encourage people to come out here and get food. It’s a good way for us to make money and I think some wealthy, benevolent donors would like to help.”