NASHVILLE – Marie Mott, who led local demonstrations in response to the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, got the most votes for the District 8 seat on the Chattanooga City Council last week.
But she hasn’t won yet.
Mott and appointed incumbent Marvene Noel will face off in a Sept. 15 runoff election, an extra step imposed by a City Council resolution this year, which the Unity Group is questioning.
Mott received 557 votes to Noel’s 341. The runoff was triggered because Mott did not secure a majority by receiving more than 50% of the vote.
“While we don’t dispute the validity of the need for a special election, we do think the process identified in Resolution 31030 was not adequately conveyed to the voters,” Unity Group Co-Chairman Eric Atkins said in an email to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “This very well could have been a determining factor in the election outcome. The voters have a right to clear and accurate facts that help them be as informed and educated on the election and issues as possible.