Republican Joe Graham will seek another term on the Hamilton County Commission after serving three terms.
Graham, 60, will be running to keep his District 11 seat, which represents Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, Alton Park, a part of Missionary Ridge and a small section of Brainerd. If elected, it would be his second term in that specific seat.
Graham touted his dedication to improving schools in his district in a Tuesday press release, specifically citing the county’s investments in The Howard School. He and the rest of the Hamilton County Commission unanimously approved funding last week for the design of a new indoor sports and theater building there.
“Recognizing Hamilton County’s future depends on how well the next generation is supported,” the press release said. “He has focused on ensuring the school system has the resources it needs while maintaining a careful approach to fiscal responsibility and a consistent effort to keep county taxes low.”
Most recently, Graham also has expressed interest in the possibility of a property tax freeze for older adults in the county — though he and the rest of the commission landed on delaying a vote to put one in place until next summer, just before elections wrap up.
He was also one of the “yes” votes to amendments to Plan Hamilton, the county’s guidelines for development in unincorporated areas, which passed by a narrow 6-5 margin in August.
If included in the plan’s final draft, which still has yet to be approved, the changes would base density in agricultural areas on the type of sewage system available, add requirements for buffer zones and landscaping and require sidewalks and larger setbacks for new subdivisions.
(READ MORE: Amendments to Plan Hamilton changes get commission OK)
Graham was first elected in 2010 to a seat representing parts of Red Bank, North Chattanooga and Lookout Valley, sitting as commissioner there for eight years. Then he was ousted by Democrat David Sharpe in the 2018 election. After that, the county went through redistricting because of population growth, which split some districts and overall added two new seats — Districts 10 and 11 — to the County Commission.
Graham ran for the new District 11 seat in 2022, facing Democrat challenger Montrell Besley, and won by just a few dozen votes. Sharpe has also continued to hold his seat on the commission for District 6, which now encompasses Red Bank and North Chattanooga.
A Lookout Valley resident, Graham has been married to his wife for over three decades and has four children, as well as three grandchildren. No one has announced a bid to challenge Graham.
— Compiled by Siena Duncan