In Hamilton County, it’s not uncommon to see one official serving in two elected roles.
Ken Smith, of Hixson, serves on both the Chattanooga City Council and Hamilton County Commission. His fellow commissioner, Gene-o Shipley, is a longtime member of the Soddy-Daisy City Commission. In East Ridge, Vice Mayor Esther Helton-Haynes also represents the city in the Tennessee Statehouse, following in the footsteps of two of her predecessors.
But a bill moving through the Statehouse could put an end to people holding multiple elected offices at once.
House Bill 2080 would also make it illegal to run for more than one office in the same election.