East Ridge Vice Mayor Mike Chauncey is running for the District 8 commission seat. / Contributed photoEast Ridge Vice Mayor Mike Chauncey has entered the race for the newly drawn District 8 seat on the Hamilton County Commission.
Chauncey, a Republican, will challenge Hamilton County school board chair Tucker McClendon. Neither candidate has returned their qualifying petitions, according to the Hamilton County Election Commission.
Commissioner Tim Boyd, R-East Brainerd, announced last month he would not seek re-election.
"I want to continue to serve the citizens in District 8 on the county level, and I think it's important now considering we're going to have a new mayor and several new commissioners," Chauncey said in a Wednesday phone interview.
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Chauncey, a real estate agent, was elected to the East Ridge City Council in 2018 and appointed vice mayor in 2020.
Prior to those positions, he served as chair of the East Ridge Planning Commission.
During his time in government, Chauncey said he was most proud of the "unprecedented" economic growth in East Ridge under the city's current leadership.
"I'm very well-known for asking the tough questions, understanding the budget and prioritizing responsible spending," Chauncey said.
(READ MORE: Hamilton County officials question impact of voucher program on local school funding)
If elected, Chauncey said his priorities would be t0 adequately fund the county's schools while keeping taxes at bay.
Chauncey will be running in a transformed District 8 after county commissioners in November approved an 11-district map to replace the county's former nine-district map.
The old District 8 included all of East Ridge and a southern portion of Chattanooga.
Now, however, the district no longer includes a portion of East Brainerd, specifically the area surrounding East Brainerd Elementary School and the school itself. Those areas moved to District 7.
(READ MORE: Hamilton County Register of Deeds Marc Gravitt announces re-election bid)
The 2022 primary election will be held May 3.
Candidates must return qualifying petitions to the elections commission by Feb. 17, and they have until Feb. 24 to withdraw from the race.
Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com or 814-319-5158. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger.