Chattanooga City Council District 7 runoff election results (unofficial)
Erskine Oglesby - 740Chris Anderson - 628Write-in - 4Source: Hamilton County Election Office
Chattanooga City Council District 9 runoff election results (unofficial)
Demetrus Coonrod - 700Yusuf Hakeem - 467Write-in - 2Source: Hamilton County Election Office
Chattanooga City Councilmen Chris Anderson and Yusuf Hakeem both lost their seats Tuesday night, upset by challengers Erksine Oglesby and Demetrus Coonrod in a runoff election.
Oglesby won District 7 with 740 votes to Anderson's 628. Coonrod emerged victorious in District 9, receiving 700 votes to Hakeem's 467.
District 7 encompasses the precincts of Alton Park, Downtown, East Lake and St. Elmo. District 9 includes the precincts of Eastdale, East Chattanooga, Glenwood, Missionary Ridge and Ridgedale.
Both incumbents received the most votes in their respective races in the March 7 election, but neither achieved the required majority to win outright, forcing them into runoffs with the runners-up.
"It's unbelievable," Coonrod said of her victory. "I just thank God. I'm looking ahead to moving our district forward."
Coonrod said she "absolutely" believed she could win because she knew the people in District 9 wanted change. If she could make it to a runoff with Hakeem, she knew she could defeat him, she said.
"I didn't get my people out to the polls," Hakeem said of his loss. "I have to believe it's God's will. I'm not bitter, I'm not upset. I'll just have to see where the Lord leads me next."
In the final week of early voting, which ended April 6, the District 9 race heated up when Hakeem described Coonrod as "unhinged, a pathological liar and crazy" on a Sunday afternoon radio program, four days before the end of early voting.
By that evening, Coonrod insisted Hakeem was the one who was unhinged during a public forum he did not attend. Hakeem described the forum, hosted by Citizens Concerned for Justice, as a "setup."
"Marginalizing women is not the norm and should never be tolerated in Chattanooga or anywhere," Coonrod said in a statement the next day, alleging Hakeem's actions were a "clear indication" of desperation and describing his comments as "unfounded, distasteful, shameful and just plain ole disgusting."
Local Nation of Islam leader Kevin Muhammad called on Hakeem to apologize even before Coonrod released her own statement. Hakeem never did.
Instead, Hakeem later issued a statement charging his opponent had "publicly, carelessly and repeatedly made irresponsible and counterproductive statements" about him and his supporters.
Both candidates urged voters to focus their attention on the community's needs and not their opponent's attacks.
Hakeem has served multiple terms representing District 9 since the 1990s. He edged out incumbent Peter Murphy by six votes in 2013.
Neither Oglesby nor Anderson could be reached for comment Tuesday night.
The District 7 runoff had its share of excitement in the last week of early voting.
The campaign fireworks began when Anderson sent out mailers alleging links between Oglesby and failed mayoral candidate Larry Grohn, a tea party Republican, and "Republican operatives."
Oglesby has said it was "unfortunate" his opponent took to last-minute deceptive advertisements, describing the claims as ridiculous.
Both Oglesby and Grohn denied the former mayoral candidate has "propped up" Oglesby's campaign, as alleged in Anderson's mailer.
"I want to remain focused on the four pillars on my campaign, which are economic development, community revitalization, programs for youth and families and community policing," Oglesby said as the flap unfolded.
Grohn, who soon ends a four-year term on the city council, said in a statement he has taken "personal offense" to Anderson making "malicious statements he knows are untrue."
Anderson later charged Grohn had shown support to Oglesby by attending one of his fundraisers at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. He also claimed the pair had knocked on doors together last November.
"I think any reasonable person would conclude Grohn supports Oglesby if he attends a fundraiser, much like they would conclude Mayor Andy Berke supports me when he attends one of my fundraisers," Anderson has said.
Grohn admitted he attended the fundraiser, but only because he happened to be downtown to attend a council meeting and had met with friends who attended the event.
He and Oglesby dismissed allegations they had campaigned together.
Anderson touted his record on increasing city investments to improve District 7 over the last four years, recently citing the construction of the new Southside Community Park on the former Charles A. Bell Elementary School property.
Anderson first took the District 7 seat in 2013, when he unseated Manny Rico.
Runoff voter turnout traditionally falls short of the city's general election numbers.
The District 7 runoff generated 1,372 votes compared to the 1,710 ballots cast in the general election.
District 9 numbers fell even sharper, with only 1,169 votes cast in the runoff. Voters cast 2,037 votes in the general election.
Challengers removed three incumbents in six contested council races this election cycle, with Councilman Moses Freeman losing to challenger Anthony Byrd in the March 7 election.
In all, the council will see four new faces, including Darrin Ledford, who ran unopposed in District 4. Grohn vacated the seat to seek the mayor's seat.
Mayor Andy Berke and the members of the Chattanooga City Council will take their oaths of office Monday at the Tivoli Theater.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.