The Times Free Press is teaming up with its news partner WRCB-TV Channel 3 to host a Chattanooga mayoral debate with runoff candidates Tim Kelly and Kim White.
The debate will take place on Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. EST. It will be broadcast on the Times Free Press Facebook page and a recording will be available on the Times Free Press website after the event.
The debate will be moderated by Dave Flessner of the Times Free Press and David Carroll of WRCB.
In the March 2 election, Kelly and White received the most votes of a field of 15 candidates vying to replace two-term Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. However, the election resulted in a vote so split that no one could win, according to the city charter, which requires a winner to earn more than 50% of the total vote.
Kelly and White were separated by fewer than 300 votes. Kelly received 30.1% of the vote to White's 29.2%.
Kelly, 53, a native of Chattanooga, is the owner or past owner of local companies including a car dealership and CEO of the Chattanooga Football Club. He is running on a platform of experience running businesses, managing employees and handling crises.
White, 60, is a Hixson native and the former CEO and president of nonprofit redevelopment agency River City Co. Her previous business career included recruitment for a Fortune 500 company, and she has run on her experience creating public and private partnerships and ability in driving local development.
The runoff election for the mayoral race - along with races for city council Districts 2 and 5 - will be held April 13. Early voting will run from March 24 to April 8. Absentee ballots may be requested beginning March 12. The deadline to register to vote is March 15.