City Council

The Chattanooga City Council is the legislative and quasi-judicial body of city government. The Council is a nine member body, one elected from each district of the city.  Chattanoogans elect a Mayor and all nine Council members on the first Tuesday in March of every fourth year.  The next elections will be held on March 5, 2013.  To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast; if no candidate garners a majority, a run-off election is held between the two candidates that received the most votes.  Runoff elections are held on the second Tuesday of April.  New terms begin on the first Monday after the second Tuesday of April. In April of each year the City Council elects a Chair and Vice-Chair.  For the 2012-2013 term, the Chair is Pam Ladd and the Vice-Chair is Peter Murphy.

In order for an item to appear on the Council Agenda, it must first be presented in a committee meeting; exceptions may be made with approval of either the Council Chair or Vice-Chair, or any two members.  The Council works through a committee structure and committee assignments are made by the Council Chairman.

Unsure who your Councilperson is? Use the Council Info Search.