It will be a repeat of the 2015 Ringgold mayor's race in November when incumbent Mayor Nick Millwood faces off against Tony Hullender, who lost by 42 votes in a 2015 runoff.
Additionally, pro wrestler Paul Lee, who was dropped from the 2015 mayoral ballot over residency issues, has qualified for what will be a three-way race in the Nov. 5 election. A candidate must get 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff. The qualifying deadline was Aug. 23.
Two incumbent city council members - Larry Black and Terry Crawford - will not seek re-election, opening up two seats on the five-member council. Six candidates, including incumbent Sara Clark, qualified for the election. The top three will win seats. Councilmen Kelly Bomar and Randall Franks were elected to four-years terms in 2017.
Fort Oglethorpe Elections 2020-2023
* Mayor: Earl Gray, who unseated incumbent Mayor Lynn Lane in 2015 is challenged in this upcoming election by Louis H. Hamm, a former councilman and pastor.* Ward 1: Councilwoman Rhonda James is challenged by Melissa Jacks, a business education teacher.* Ward 4: Councilman Derek Rogers is running unopposed.
In addition to Clark, candidates on the council ballot will be Jake Haynes, Charlie Lamar, Donald Pangle, Ray Reavely and Rhonda Swaney.
Crawford is finishing his 12th year on the council and has decades of service with organizations affiliated with the city. He said recent health issues caused his physicians to say the rigors of a local campaign would be dangerous.
"God's got something else for me to do," said Crawford, who underwent heart bypass surgery in July and a hospitalization a few weeks later due to lung issues.
Black said he will use the time currently spent on city business to support his 6-foot-5, 295-pound son, Bo, a promising sophomore offensive lineman with the Ringgold High School football team.
"With my businesses and the council, it was all about time," he said of his decision not to run. "I love serving, but want to be there to support Bo."
Hullender, a local businessman, won 38.3% of the vote in the 2015 general election, while Millwood received 37.5%. A third candidate, Jerry Payne, had 24%. In a runoff where only 383 ballots were cast, Millwood edged Hullender by 42 votes.
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In other action at the Ringgold City Council's meeting Aug. 26, the board adopted the "new" millage rate and resultant 1.2% property tax increase for 2019. The council unanimously approved maintaining the rate of 3.11 mills per $1,000 of assessed property value for the third consecutive year instead of taking the "rollback rate."
The rollback rate is the millage rate required to keep revenues the same as the prior year and is set annually by Catoosa County Tax Commissioner Gary Autry Jr. based on yearly property value assessments. Maintaining the rate of 3.11 mills will generate $50,565 in new revenue for the city, according to the 2019 tax digest. The city was required to hold three public meetings before the vote. Fewer than 10 taxpayers attended the three meetings.
City Manager Dan Wright said the impact on private property owners is minimal, with all but $8,700 of the revenue coming from new construction and annexation, not assessments on existing homes. A property owner with a home valued at $150,000 will see a $2.26 increase, according to city documents. Tax bills will be mailed on Oct. 20 and are due Dec. 20, according to Autry's office.
Council member Clark said maintaining the rate creates stability and prevents a bigger jump in taxes when economic conditions are not as favorable.
"You talk to people and they say they can pay a small amount but cannot handle a big jump," said Clark, adding that even small amounts of additional revenue help to offset unbudgeted items that occur during the year.
Total property values countywide have increased from $184,372,590 to $225,087,945 since 2014. Over the six years, the millage rate for Ringgold taxpayers has increased from 2.76 to 3.11 and generated $227,267 in new revenue.
Wright said the 2019 budget will be presented to the council in November.
Email Davis Lundy at davislundy@aol.com.