District 7 Chattanooga City Council Candidates Finalized
Photo: Ken Hays and Raquetta Dotley
Photo Credit: Ken Hays and Raquetta Dotley’s Facebook Pages
Chattanooga, TN – Another Chattanooga resident has announced their bid for candidacy in the March 2nd, 2021 Chattanooga City Council election.
Ken Hays announced his candidacy yesterday, January 4th, for the District 7 Chattanooga City Council Seat.
This seat will be vacated by Erksine Oglesby Jr. who is running for Chattanooga City Mayor, along with District 5 City Council Member, Russell Gilbert and 14 other qualifying candidates.
Distict 7 includes Alton Park, Downtown, East Lake, South Side and St. Elmo voting precincts.
“I am committed to making our communities a better place to live, work and play. Wherever you live— Alton Park, Downtown, Westside, St. Elmo, East Lake— I will work to ensure progress makes its way to every doorstep,” said Hays.
Hays is a long-time Southside area resident and retired as CEO of The Enterprise Center in 2019.
According to Hays’, he served in President Carter’s administration and upon returning to Chattanooga worked in real estate development.
Beginning in 1997, Hays served as Mayor Jon Kinsey’s Chief of Staff.
During his time as Chief of Staff, Hays was involved in creating the first department of neighborhood services in city government, negotiating for a land purchase that became Enterprise South Industrial Park and created a city-wide recreation plan that included new recreation centers.
Hays also was involved in the creation of Battle and Brown Academies and the 21st Century Waterfront while he was at River City Company.
Hays’ platform is Strong Neighborhoods, Quality Education and Economic Development and Equity.
Hays’ opposition for the District 7 City Council seat is Raquetta Dotley.
“We saw a great need and want from the people to bridge and unite these areas (Alton Park, Piney Woods, and St. Elmo) to build a stronger community for all. As city councilwoman, I will address and follow through with each and every public concern such as high-traffic and speeding, neighborhood equity, and transparent leadership,” said Dotely.
Dotley currently serves as the Executive Director of the Net Resource Foundation and as Church Administrator for Westside Missionary Baptist Church.
According to Dotely, she served on the Healthier Southside Community Committee, the Trust for Public Land community input team for the Alton Park Connector Project, Siempre Juntos, CHI Memorial Teen Dating and Violence youth pastor partnership, the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise 2019 Community Leadership Institute Team, and the Association for Fund Professionals.
Dotley’s platform is Neighborhood Equity, Economic Development and Infrastructure and Transportation.
Hays and Dotley will not have to contend with any other candidates for the District 7 seat as the qualifying deadline passed on December 17th and the withdrawal deadline passed on December 24th.
Hays qualified to run for office on December 14th, while Dotely qualified on October 28th.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 2, 2021 for the City of Chattanooga Municipal Election.
Polls will be open from 8am to 8pm Eastern on Election Day. Early Voting will begin February 10 and end on February 25, 2021.
