Mayor Kelly challenges residents to break turnout record

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Chattanooga mayor Tim Kelly is issuing a challenge to voters ahead of the upcoming city elections.

He is asking residents to break the record for turnout in a city election.

The current record was set back in 2001, where over 30,000 voters showed up to the polls.

He says there are over one hundred and ten thousand voters who are eligible to vote.

Mayor Kelly emphasized that this election is more than just voting for mayor and your council member, but also voting on the initiative to allow the city to hire firefighters and police officers who live outside of Tennessee.

“So as mayor, I want everyone to choose to live in the city limits of Chattanooga, obviously. But even more than that, I want our police and fire departments to be fully staffed with the very best people they can find, so they have the manpower and womanpower needed to keep us safe. So if that’s what you want too, then please, please, please make a plan to vote in the March 4th election, and for the amendment on the ballot,” the mayor said.

Early voting begins next Wednesday, February 12th, and Election Day is March 4th.