Joe Graham, who finished third in the March 3 balloting for the City Council District 1 seat, said he is backing Deborah Scott for the post.
Mr. Graham said at a morning press conference at the Country Diner in Lookout Valley, "I am behind Deborah 100 percent. I will be working hard to get her elected."
Ms. Scott finished a close second behind Linda Bennett, who currently chairs the council.
The vote total was Bennett 906, Scott 872 and Graham 667.
The runoff election is April 14.
Mr. Graham, a Lookout Valley resident who owns Accent Printing, said he had agreed early in the campaign to support Ms. Scott should he not win.
He said, "Linda is a very nice lady, but we need to do better and have better economic responsibility."
Mr. Graham said, "I really believe in Deborah Scott. She will do a super great job."
Mr. Graham, who gained a large vote in his home territory, urged citizens to get out and vote and become involved in their government. He noted the March 3 turnout was very low.
Ms. Scott, a retired nurse, said during the campaign "I grew to like Joe Graham. On the key issues, we don't disagree."
She said those include fiscal responsibility, accountability, infrastructure improvement, public safety and wise growth and development.
She said, "People here want a common sense approach to the problems we have in Chattanooga. We need to get the wheel back on the road.
"Citizens should be priority No. 1 - not the last thought when it comes election time."