List of mayors of Chattanooga, Tennessee

{{Short description|none}} {{see also|Mayoral elections in Chattanooga, Tennessee}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Elections in Tennessee}} This is a '''list of mayors of Chattanooga, Tennessee'''. Tim Kelly has been the incumbent mayor of Chattanooga since his inauguration on April 19, 2021 at the Tivoli Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/4/15/426719/Chattanooga-Mayor-Elect-And-City.aspx|title = Chattanooga Mayor-Elect and City Council Members to be Sworn in on April 19 at the Tivoli Theatre|date = 15 April 2021}}</ref>

==City aldermen system (1840-1911)== {| class="wikitable" |- ! align=center|# !! Portrait!! Name<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors|title = History of Mayors}}</ref>!! Term start!! Term end!! Terms!! colspan=2 | Party affiliation |- | 1 || 125px || James Enfield Berry[[#Notes|[a]]] || January 1, 1840 || December 31, 1840 || 1 || |- | 2 || || Dr. Beriah Frazier || 1841 || || 1 || |- | 3 || 125px || Dr. Milo Smith ''(1st term)'' || 1842 || 1843 || 2 || |- | 4 || || Dr. Joseph Strong Gillespie || 1844 || 1845 || 2 || |- | 5 || 125px || Henry White Massengale ''(1st term)'' || 1846 || 1848 || 3 || |- | 6 || || Thomas Crutchfield Sr. || 1849 || || 1 || |- | 7 || 125px || Dr. Milo Smith ''(3rd, 4th & 5th terms)'' || 1850 || 1852 || 3 || |- | 8 || 125px || Henry White Massengale ''(2nd term)'' || 1853 || || 1 || |- | 9 || || William Williams || January 1854 || July 1, 1954 || {{sort|.5|{{frac|1|2}}}} || |- | 10 || || William F. Ragsdale || July 1, 1854 || December 1954 || {{sort|.5|{{frac|1|2}}}} || |- | 11 || || Eldridge Gerry Pearl || 1855 || || 1 || |- | 12 || || David Claiborne McMillin || 1856 || || 1 || |- | 13 || || William D. Fulton || 1857 || || 1 || |- | 14 || || Dr. William Samuel Bell || 1858 || || 1 || |- | 15 || || Thomas Crutchfield Jr. || 1859 || || 1 || |- | 16 || || Charles Erskine Grenville || 1860 || || 1 || |- | 17 || || James Cartwright Warner || 1861 || || 1 || |- | 18 || 125px || Dr. Milo Smith ''(6th & 7th terms)'' || 1862 || September 9, 1863 || 2 || |- | colspan=5 align=center | ''Under direct control of the United States Army for duration of Civil War from 1863–1865'' |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! align=center|# !! Portrait!! Name<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors|title = History of Mayors}}</ref>!! Term start!! Term end !! Terms!! colspan=2 | Party affiliation |- | 19 || 125px || Richard Henderson || October 7, 1865 || December 28, 1865 || 1 || |- | 20 || || Charles E. Lewis || 1866 || 1867 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 21 || || Dudley C. Carr || 1867 || 1869 || 2 || |- | 22 || || Alonzo G. Sharpe ''(1st term)'' || 1869 || 1870 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 23 || || William P. Rathburn || 1870 || 1871 || 2 || |- | 24 || 75px|center || Gen. John T. Wilder ‡ || November 20, 1871 || May 18, 1872 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 25 || || Josiah Jackson Bryan || May 18, 1872 || November 25, 1872 || 1 || |- | 26 || 125px ||Dr. Eli M. Wight ''(1st term)'' || November 25, 1872 || November 24, 1873 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 27 || || Dr. Philander D. Sims || November 24, 1873 || November 23, 1874 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 28 || || John W. James || November 23, 1874 || November 22, 1875 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 29 || || Col. Tomlinson Fort, Jr. || November 22, 1875 || November 20, 1876 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 30 || 125px || Dr. Eli M. Wight ''(2nd term)'' || November 20, 1876 || November 20, 1877 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 31 || || Thomas J. Carlisle † || November 19, 1877 || October 29, 1878 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |-style="background:lightyellow | 32 || || Andrew Jackson Gahagan (''Acting'') || October 29, 1878 || November 25, 1878 || || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 33 || || Jesse Thomas Hill || November 25, 1878 || November 24, 1879 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 34 || || Henry Frederick Temple || November 24, 1879 || November 22, 1880 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || Independent |- | 35 || 125px || John A. Hart ''(1st term)'' || November 22, 1880 || November 21, 1881 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 36 || 75px|center || Henry C. Evans || November 21, 1881 || November 19, 1883 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 37 || || Hugh Whiteside || November 19, 1883 || November 23, 1885[[#Notes|[b]]] || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 38 || || Alonzo G. Sharpe ''(2nd term)'' || November 23, 1885 || November 21, 1887 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | 39 || || John B. Nicklin || November 21, 1887 || October 14, 1889 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 40 || 125px || John A. Hart ''(2nd term)'' † || October 14, 1889 || January 15, 1891 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |-style="background:lightyellow | 41 || || Isaac B. Merriman (''Acting'') || January 20, 1891 || October 19, 1891 || 1/2 || || |- | 42 || || Garnet Andrews || October 19, 1891 || October 16, 1893 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 43 || 125px || George W. Ochs || October 16, 1893 || October 18, 1897 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 44 || || Edmond G. Watkins || October 18, 1897 || October 16, 1899 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 45 || || Joseph Wassman || October 16, 1899 || October 14, 1901 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican |- | – || || Alexander W. Chambliss ''(1st & 2nd terms)'' || October 14, 1901 || October 16, 1905 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 46 || 75px|center || William Little Frierson || October 16, 1905 || October 14, 1907 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 47 || || William Riley Crabtree || October 14, 1907 || October 18, 1909 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |- | 48 || || Thomas C. Thompson || October 18, 1909 || May 8, 1911[[#Notes|[c]]] || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic |}

==City commission system (1911-1990)== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! ! align=center|#!! Portrait!! Name<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors|title = History of Mayors}}</ref> {{Small|(Birth–Death)}}!! Term in office[[#Notes|[c]]]!! Terms<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors|title = History of Mayors}}</ref>!!colspan="2" | Party affiliation!! Election |- | – || || Thomas C. Thompson (1860–1938) || May 8, 1911 – April 19, 1915 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic || 1911 |- | 49 || || Jesse M. Littleton (1867–1923) || April 19, 1915 – July 14, 1919 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican || 1915 |- | 50 || || Alex W. Chambliss ‡ (1864–1947) || July 14, 1919 – October 17, 1923 || 3 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic || 1919 <hr> 1923 |-style="background:lightyellow | 51 || || Richard Hardy (1868–1927) || October 17, 1923 – April 18, 1927 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || ''Acting'' |- | 52 || || Edward D. Bass ‡ (1873–1960) || April 18, 1927 – January 10, 1947 || 5 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic || 1927 <hr> 1931 <hr> 1935 <hr> 1939 <hr> 1943 |-style="background:lightyellow | 53 || || Elijah R. Betterton (1879–1958) || January 10, 1947 – April 14, 1947 || {{sort|.5|{{frac|1|2}}}} || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || ''Acting'' |- | 54 || || Hugh P. Wasson (1889–1958) || April 14, 1947 – April 16, 1951 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || Independent || 1947 |- | 55 || 75px|center || Peter R. Olgiati (1901–1989) || April 16, 1951 – April 15, 1963 || 3 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || 1951 <hr> 1955 <hr> 1959 |- | 56 || center|75px|| Ralph H. Kelley ‡ (1928–2004) || April 15, 1963 – January 1, 1969 || 1{{sort|.5|{{frac|1|2}}}}|| style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || 1963 <hr> 1967 |-style="background:lightyellow | 57 || || Austin L. Bender ‡ (1916–1980) || January 1, 1969 – January 26, 1971 || {{sort|.5|{{frac|1|2}}}} || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic || ''Acting'' |-style="background:lightyellow | 58 || || S. Dean Peterson (1903–1986) || January 26, 1971 – April 1971 || 2 months || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || ''Acting'' |- | 59 || || Robert K. Walker (1925–2007) || 1971–1975 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || 1971 |- | 60 || 125px || Charles A. Rose (1930–2022) || 1975–1983 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || 1975 <hr> 1979 |- | 61 || || Gene Roberts (1932–2013) || 1983–1990 || 4 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || 1983 <hr> 1987 |}

==City council system (Since 1990)== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! ! align=center|#!! Portrait!! Name<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors|title = History of Mayors}}</ref> {{Small|(Birth–Death)}}!! Term in office!! Terms!!colspan="2" | Party affiliation !! Election !! Previous office<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Past Mayors|url=https://chattanooga.gov/government/mayors-office/past-mayors|access-date=July 3, 2025}}</ref> |- | – || || Gene Roberts (1932–2013) || 1990–1997 || 4 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || none || 1990 <hr> 1993 || Tennessee Commissioner of Safety (1979–1982) |- | 62 || || Jon Kinsey (b. 1954) || 1997–2001 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic || 1997 || President of Leonard Kinsey Company (1984–1996) |- | 63 || 125px|center || Bob Corker (b. 1952) || April 16, 2001 – April 18, 2005 || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|  || Republican || 2001 || Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration (1995–1996) |- | 64 || 125px|center || Ron Littlefield (b. 1954) || April 18, 2005 – April 15, 2013 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || Independent || 2005 <hr> 2009 || Chairman of the City Council (1990–2001) |- | 65 || 125px|center || Andy Berke (b. 1968)|| April 15, 2013 – April 19, 2021 || 2 || style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|  || Democratic || 2013 <hr> 2017 || Member of the Tennessee Senate (2007–2012) |- | 66 || 125px|center || Tim Kelly (b. 1967) || April 19, 2021 – ''Incumbent'' || 1 || style="background:{{party color|Independent (United States)}};"|  || Independent || 2021 <hr> 2025 |} '''Notes''' [a] From 1840–1882, all mayors served one year terms, with several mayors elected to successive terms. [b] From 1883–1911, all mayors served two year terms, with several mayors elected to successive terms. [c] From 1911 to the present, most mayors have served four year terms, with several mayors elected to successive terms.

==See also== * Timeline of Chattanooga, Tennessee

==Notes== <references/>

==Further reading== *"[http://www.chattanooga.gov/about-chattanooga/history-of-mayors Mayor's Office: History of Mayors]" — City of Chattanooga

Chattanooga Category:Mayors of Chattanooga, Tennessee Category:1840 establishments in Tennessee

List of mayors of Chattanooga, Tennessee

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