Tim Kelly ’89

Native Chattanoogan Tim Kelly ’89 loves his hometown. He returned to Tennessee after graduation determined to make a difference and, as mayor, he’s doing just that, presiding over the city as it undergoes a financial and cultural boom. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be mayor at a time like this,” he says.

Running for mayor was Kelly’s first foray into government work. Frustrated with the divisive tenor of national politics, he wanted to cultivate change locally. He was elected in 2020 with 59.9 percent of the vote, and was sworn in on April 19, 2021. “It was of my way of coping,” Kelly says. “To just focus on making Chattanooga the best city it could possibly be.”

Kelly has had another important impact on the city: In 2009, he brought professional soccer to the region by co-founding Chattanooga FC. The team has proven popular, with some of the highest fan attendance numbers in its league.

Equality and equity are major values for Kelly, who launched a strategic plan, One Chattanooga, in his early days in office to create a stronger, more unified city. The plan’s goals include improvements to infrastructure and public transit, building affordable housing, closing racial gaps in public health programs, and making efforts to boost local and regional economies.

He’s proud of what the city has achieved under the plan so far, including the creation of an affordable housing fund, a down payment assistance program and a co-response unit to help with homelessness. “I’m determined to make Chattanooga a better, healthier and more vibrant city,” Kelly says.

— Anne-Ryan Sirju JRN’09