Chattanooga Mayor Kelly’s community development pick falls short of council OK

Staff photo by Abby White / Carol Hunter, administrator of the Chattanooga Department of Community Development, speaks Sept. 26, 2024, at the grand opening of the James A. Henry Community YMCA. The Chattanooga City Council on June 24, 2025, did not approve her reappointment to the position. Staff photo by Abby White / Carol Hunter, administrator of the Chattanooga Department of Community Development, speaks Sept. 26, 2024, at the grand opening of the James A. Henry Community YMCA. The Chattanooga City Council on June 24, 2025, did not approve her reappointment to the position.

By Joan McClane June 25, 2025 2 min read

The Chattanooga City Council did not reconfirm an administrator appointed by Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly on Tuesday, surprising some.

Council member Dennis Clark of Cherokee Woods made a motion to reconfirm Carol Hunter, Kelly’s director of community development.

Then a long silence ensued in the council chamber. No one seconded the motion.

Meanwhile, several others were confirmed by the City Council, including Jerele Neeld as chief information officer, Phil Noblett as city attorney, Karitsa Jones as early childhood administrator and April Furth as new parks and outdoor administrator.