Council Members
DEMETRUS COONROD (District 9)Contact Information:
Phone: (423) 643-7185
Fax:(423) 643-7199
Mailing Address:
1000 Lindsay Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-4233
The most important titles that Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod will ever hold are “mom” and “proud Grandmother.” Coonrod, the oldest of four children, grew up in a working-class family. Her mother was a nurse by trade and her father was in the military. She experienced the impact of income inequality firsthand as she watched her parents battle drug addiction. The experience exposed for Coonrod the serious problems with determinants of health, especially for Black and lower-income families.
Demetrus Coonrod was first elected to the District 9 seat of the Chattanooga City Council on April 11, 2017. She was sworn in for a second term on April 19, 2021. She is currently serving as Chair of three Council committees: Economic Development Committee; Equity and Community Development Committee; and Human Resources Committee.
In January 2022, Councilwoman Coonrod was appointed to the National League of Cities 2022 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee. She was elected to a one-year term, where she will help guide and shape the NLC’s federal advocacy policies and priorities.
She is a Leadership Chattanooga Alumni who holds membership in several other organizations: the Hamilton County Schools Leadership Program, Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP, National Black Caucus, National League of Cities, Order of Eastern Star Zia #1081, and Tennessee Municipal League. In addition, she serves on A Step Ahead Contraceptive Access Advisory Committee, Human Development Committee, Criminal Justice Reform Task Force, and Equity and Leadership Council.
- East Chattanooga 1 & 2
- Eastdale
- Glenwood
- Missionary Ridge
- Ridgedale 1 & 2
MARVENE NOEL (District 8)
Contact Information:
Phone: (423) 643-7182
Fax: (423) 643-7199
Mailing Address:
1000 Lindsay Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-4233
Email: mnoel@chattanooga.gov
Councilwoman Marvene Noel was elected to represent District 8 after winning a run-off election held on September 15, 2022. Prior to this election, she served as an interim appointee for District 8, after being appointed by her eight colleagues on the Chattanooga City Council on March 8, 2022.
Her personal mantra, "She will give out before she gives up," reflects in everything she does. The Historic Orchard Knob Neighborhood has been her home for more than 30 years.
During her residency there, she has raised three marvelous children, been employed as a health professional, Past President of the Orchard Knob Neighborhood, a member of the Historic River-to-Ridge Advisory Committee, helping to design the 10-year Area Plan. She learned community involvement makes a difference in developing a plan that reflects the needs of those who live in the neighborhoods. This experience enlightened her as to the roles and responsibilities of the City and County. In addition, her active participation in the Neighborhood University programs provided her with information as to what is needed to create a strong neighborhood leadership and strong neighborhoods that serve as the foundation for the city.
As an active resident in City Council District 8 and a longtime member of the Orchard Knob Neighborhood Association, her priority is to ensure all residents in District 8 have a voice when it comes to issues impacting District 8. She believes it is imperative that decisions regarding the community are made by people that live in the community. This is needed in order to build trust in those who live in the District. It has become a regular occurrence for individuals that do not live or work in the neighborhoods to make decisions about District 8 neighborhoods.
She has worked closely with Tom Ozburn, President and CEO of Parkridge Medical System, in the revitalization of the Orchard Knob Neighborhood. Together, they created the Orchard Knob Collaborative. She has a strong desire to improve the community, which reflects in her numerous activities within her neighborhood association. Furthermore, she was successfully awarded grants that are being used to help improve the health and wellness, and home repairs of underserved community members.
As a Chattanooga resident, she has served in multiple leadership positions and boards across the city. This has provided her with the resources to develop and foster relationships with a large, diverse group of neighborhoods and business leaders. She strives to find ways to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations, including low income, retirees, youth, and the disabled.
She has served on the following boards:
- Park Ridge Health System Board of Governors
- League of Women Voters of Chattanooga - Director of Diversity
- Neighborhoods Development Oversight Committee - Chattanooga Lead for Health Disparities
- Orchard Knob Collaborative
- East Chattanooga Community Council
In addition to her experience and extensive knowledge of the Chattanooga community, she is a highly self-motivated professional. She possesses strong communication and leadership skills along with a great sense of humor. She enjoys spending time with people and learning from life experiences. Ultimately, Councilwoman Noel works to ensure that residents work together to make all neighborhoods in District 8 a great place to live, and where neighbors feel safe and enjoy life.
DISTRICT LOOKUP
District 8 consists of the following precincts:
- Amnicola
- Avondale
- Bushtown
- Courthouse 1 & 2
- Eastside 1 & 2
CAROL B. BERZ, LCSW, JD, PhD (District 6)Contact Information:
Fax: (423) 643-7199
Mailing Address: City Council Building
1000 Lindsay Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-4233
Email: cberz@chattanooga.gov
Focusing on solution-based, collaborative problem-solving, in both the public and private sectors, Carol Berz has been a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil and Family mediator and trainer for more than 25 years.
Dr. Berz is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, a mediation services and training organization headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She also serves as a Councilwoman for the City of Chattanooga, where she currently chairs the Budget and Finance Committee.
Through public/private partnerships, Dr. Berz has overseen the renaissance of commerce, economic development and connectivity in a diverse business environment that includes health care, construction, government, employment and finance.
Dr. Berz does extensive practice and teaching in both the public and private sector in the areas of mediation, law and ethics, and employment and labor/management issues relative to the costs of corporate conflict. She also is recognized as an authority in Family Mediation, with expertise in the special circumstance of domestic and workplace violence.
Formerly the Director of Forensic Services for Joseph W. Johnson Mental Health Center, and subsequently its Executive Director, Dr. Berz also has served as a visiting professor at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, teaching social policy, law and ethics. She is a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, with extensive post-doctoral training in mediation, law and conflict management system design.
Dr. Berz served as the Chair of the Curriculum and Continuing Education Committee of the Mediation Association of Tennessee before becoming its President. She also chaired the Mediation component of the Hamilton County Courts' Pilot Project relative to Tennessee's Parenting Plan law. She spent eleven years as a commissioner with the Chattanooga Human Rights/Human Relations Commission, dealing with employment and civil rights matters, becoming the first Chairwoman of that body.
Dr. Berz is a graduate of Leadership America in Washington, D.C., and former President of the Board of Directors of the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council. A member of the Tennessee Advisory Commission to the US Civil Rights Commission, she served on the Governor's Task Force on Church Burnings. Dr. Berz also chaired the Tennessee Economic Council on Women and spearheaded its Economic Impact Committee.
Dr. Berz is former Chair of the Board of Managers of the Hamilton Family YMCA and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Metro YMCA, where she served on the Human Resources Committee. She is the 2004 recipient of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Dr. Berz was honored by the City of Chattanooga for her unique contributions toward advancing equality of opportunity among its citizens. She currently chairs the Mayor's Council for Women and the Advisory Board to the Family Justice Center.
Professional memberships include the Association for Conflict Resolution, the ADR Section of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy for Professional Family Mediators and the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators.
Dr. Berz holds a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Tennessee, a JD from the Nashville School of Law, a MA in Administration from the University of Tennessee, and a BA in Human Services Management from the University of Tennessee, with additional studies at Emory University, Bryn Mawr College, the Deming Institute, and Harvard University. In addition, she is an IFTA certified Personal Trainer, an AEA advanced trainer, and a YMCA certified instructor and trainer in aquatic sports training.
District Lookup
District 6 consists of the following precincts:
- Airport
- Brainerd
- Brainerd Hills
- Concord 1, 3 & 6
- Ooltewah 3
- Summit 1
- Tyner 1 & 2
RAQUETTA DOTLEY (District 7)1000 Lindsay Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-4233
Chair Dotley is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a graduate of Brainerd High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and her Masters from Tennessee Temple University, Temple Baptist Seminary. She currently serves as the City Councilwoman for Chattanooga District 7, Executive Director of the Net Resource Foundation, and Administrator for Westside Missionary Baptist Church.
She believes that civic engagement is everyone's responsibility. Everyone has a voice and that voice can be expressed through their vote, input in policy matters, and/or by simply looking out for their neighbor. Voter education, participation, and transportation have been the cornerstone of her civic engagement since 2008. She has served as the co-chair of the Hamilton County Voters Coalition, Get Engaged Chairperson for the local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, worked with the Black Voter and Proud Voter Projects, and has coordinated multiple Super Saturday events to encourage citizens to vote.
Chair Dotley currently works with the following organizations:
- Trust for Public Land, Community Partnership Network
- RiverCity Company, Board Member
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Member
- Downtown Chattanooga Alliance, Board Member
- TNDP State Executive Committee, District 10
- South Chattanooga Community Association, Treasurer/Secretary
- Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Community Advisory Council
- Family Justice Center, Advisory Committee
- Mayors' Council for Women, Empowerment Committee
- Alton Park 1 & 2
- Downtown 1 & 2
- East Lake
- St. Elmo 1
D
ISIAH HESTER (District 5)Contact Information:
Phone: (423) 643-7183
Fax: (423) 643-7199
Mailing Address: City Council Building
1000 Lindsay Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-4233
Email: ihester@chattanooga.gov
Isiah Hester is one of ten children of Albert and Mildred Hester, who believed in academic excellence of their children. All siblings graduated from universities. He is the husband of Patrice--with whom they have two children. He is a small business owner, fourth-generation minister, community organizer, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor's degree in Human Service Management and a Master's in Ministry. He is a fierce advocate for the citizens of District 5. He is the current chair of the Council's Parks and Public Works Committee.
District 5 consists of the following precints:
- Bonny Oaks
- Dalewood
- Eastgate 1 & 2
- Kingspoint 1, 2 & 3
- Lake Hills
- Woodmore 1 & 2
