Chattanooga Residents Prepare for Municipal Election and Referendum on March 4th
Photo by Zach Wear on Unsplash
In The Know with Gino…
As the City of Chattanooga prepares for its Municipal Election tomorrow, March 4th, 8,983 residents have already taken the opportunity to cast their early votes, marking an encouraging turnout ahead of the decision-making day. Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing voters to make their voices heard on key issues, including the selection of the mayor, city council representatives, and a significant charter amendment.
One of the most talked-about issues on the ballot is a referendum that will determine whether to amend the City Charter — essentially Chattanooga’s constitution — to allow city employees the option of residing outside the state of Tennessee. Current regulations stipulate that all city employees must be Tennessee residents, a rule many advocate changing to enhance recruitment efforts amid staffing challenges faced by local police and fire departments.
Voting “for” the amendment would enable city employees to live beyond state lines, while a vote “against” would maintain the status quo, requiring residency within Tennessee. The amendment was proposed by officials from the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments, who are eager to attract a larger pool of candidates to fill crucial positions.
For the charter change to take effect, a majority of voters must support the amendment. The exact wording of the referendum is as follows:
“Shall Ordinance No. 14168 to amend the Charter of the City of Chattanooga be approved so that city employees are no longer required to be residents of the State of Tennessee, and by deleting Section 3.1.1 in its entirety which section now states:
‘All employees of the city shall be residents of the State of Tennessee. This section 3.1.1 shall only apply to those employees working in general government of the city. Those employees who were hired on or before January 18, 1990, and who have lived outside the State of Tennessee continuously since said date, shall be exempted from this section 3.1.1.‘”
In addition to the referendum, all nine City Council seats are up for election tomorrow, with voters selecting representatives from their respective districts. The mayoral race features incumbent Tim Kelly, who is seeking re-election, and challenger Chris Long, both vying for a crucial four-year term.
Residents looking to participate in the election can find their designated polling stations and to view a SAMPLE BALLOT click HERE. To learn more about the referendum and the election please visit CHATTAMATTERS.COM for a complete Voter’s Guide.
As the clock ticks down, Chattanooga’s residents are poised to influence the future of their city by not only choosing their leaders but also determining the possibility of an expansive approach to city employment.
SOURCES: Chattamatters & NOOGAtoday
