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Chattanooga mayor candidate had stalking charge, lied about education

Staff photo by Tim Barber.Mayoral candidate Chris Long speaks to a large crowd answering questions Monday night at the first of two forums. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, INC. sponsored the forum at the Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church on N. Moore Road in Brainerd.
Staff photo by Tim Barber.Mayoral candidate Chris Long speaks to a large crowd answering questions Monday night at the first of two forums. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, INC. sponsored the forum at the Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church on N. Moore Road in Brainerd. Staff photo by Tim Barber.Mayoral candidate Chris Long speaks to a large crowd answering questions Monday night at the first of two forums. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, INC. sponsored the forum at the Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church on N. Moore Road in Brainerd.

By Mariah Franklin 5 min read

The March 4 race for mayor of Chattanooga has pitted the incumbent, Tim Kelly, against a lone challenger who lacks academic and professional qualifications he’s claimed publicly.

Chris Long is Kelly’s only competition. A three-time contender for the mayor’s office, Long, 60, has a history of sharing racist ideas online and lying about his educational credentials.

He was also once charged with stalking a woman. A Hamilton County General Sessions Court clerk signed a warrant for his arrest on a stalking charge in April 1997. The charge was later dismissed, a clerk with the court told the Chattanooga Times Free Press by phone.

Long did not respond to phone calls and voicemails left by the Chattanooga Times Free Press seeking input on this story Thursday.

Long was one of four contenders in the 2017 race and one of 15 in the crowded 2021 field vying to replace outgoing Mayor Andy Berke. He won 491 votes in 2021, gaining 84 over his 2017 bid, before he was eliminated ahead of a runoff contest between Kelly and Kim White.