Blogger Plans to Run for Chattanooga Mayor

A blogger and columnist is planning to run in the Chattanooga mayor's race.

Charlotte Mullis with the Hamilton County Election Commission says Joe Lance picked up papers to run yesterday.

He co-founded TennesseeTicket.com and has contributed to other publications in the past.

On his website, Lance said: I am running for Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

And, as a natural outcome of that decision, I am ceasing my blogging here on TennesseeTicket.com and in similar outlets.

After much observation and careful consideration, I have decided that the best way to encourage my fellow citizens to get involved in our local government is by asking them to allow me the honor of serving them as our next Mayor. I love the city of Chattanooga and believe that the best way to build on its recent successes, and to make this an even greater city for all of its residents and visitors, is to involve as many willing participants as possible in defining what we're doing next -- and in doing it.

The opportunities are many more than one person can manage alone, and I look forward to working toward them together.

There will be many more details to come.

Many, many thanks to the readers who have kept me going for the past few years. I hope that your interest in and engagement with your government only grows."

Others who picked up papers in the past include Mayor Ron Littlefield, Cecil Parrott, and Scott Seagle.

Former City Parks and Recration Director Rob Healy is the only one who has turned his qualifying papers back in but the Election Commission said he is not eligible to run.

Healy has filed a lawsuit in Chancery Court to get his name on the ballot claiming he meets the residency requirements to run for mayor.

The qualifying deadline for the city races is December 18th at Noon. The election is in March 3, 2009.