Matt Hullander, former CEO of the home improvement company HullCo, has entered the race for Hamilton County mayor in 2022, he announced Friday.
Mayor Jim Coppinger, R-Hixson, announced last month he would not seek re-election.
"I think Jim Coppinger has done a great job, and I'll have big shoes to fill," said Hullander, 48, a Republican who lives in Chattanooga.
Matt Hullander is the son of Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander.
Matt Hullander, who described himself as a conservative with Christian values, said he has wanted to run for mayor for years but hadn't had the time.
Policy details were limited at his announcement - Hullander said he plans to hold a more in-depth news conference in December - but he outlined several priorities.
Those include working with school districts to improve career technical education, investing in economic development and jobs that keep workers in the county and working to improve staffing levels at at the Silverdale Detention Center.
Hullander also said he would like to use funds from the American Rescue Plan to invest more in the Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority.
"I know people don't want to talk about sewers," he said at his announcement, on the steps of the county courthouse. "But if we're going to have housing, we've got to have sewers. That will help improve the infrastructure where we can have more affordable housing in the county."
Hullander also noted that like Chattanooga's city mayor, Tim Kelly, he has a business background and isn't a political insider.
"I do look up to [Kelly] because he doesn't need the job, and I don't either. It's something we both want to do. I've always enjoyed giving back to the community, and this gives me a bigger platform to make a bigger impact."
A graduate of Ooltewah High School and Chattanooga State Community College, Hullander served as CEO of HullCo from 2007 to April of this year, when he sold the company.
Hullander now chairs the Hamilton County Board of Zoning Appeals and serves on the board of Scenic Land Co., First Horizon Bank and the Hunter Worley Foundation.
He and his wife Jenny also run the Hullander Family Foundation, which aims to support local charities and nonprofits and has aided organizations with more than $800,000 in the past nine years, he said.
Previously, he was a member of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce's board of directors and served on the board of Erlanger hospital.
Hullander will face Weston Wamp, founder of the Millennial Debt Foundation and son of former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Chattanooga. Wamp late last month announced his campaign has raised more than $100,000.
Hamilton County Commission chair Sabrena Smedley, R-Ooltewah, is also considering a run for mayor but has yet to announce her candidacy.
Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger.
READ MORE:
Hamilton County Commission Chair Sabrena Smedley is 'strongly considering' run for county mayor
State Sen. Bo Watson is not running for Hamilton County mayor
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger announces he won't seek re-election
Locally founded HullCo sold to West Shore Home
Weston Wamp announces run for Hamilton County mayor
Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger.