Erskine Oglesby, Jr. said Thursday he plans to run for the District 7 seat on the Chattanooga City Council.
Mr. Oglesby said, “After a lot of prayers and many discussions with my wife, family members, my pastor, friends, community leaders and colleagues, I have decided to submit my papers Friday and run to be the next District 7 representative on the Chattanooga City Council.
"The next four years in our city’s progress will likely be one of the most important periods for our community. Yes, Chattanooga has been blessed with many opportunities, but District 7 has also been left out of many of these opportunities. I believe it’s time for District 7 to have a new voice on the City Council – a voice that believes Chattanooga should be known for its social innovations in reducing crime, growing our workforce, creating economic empowerment opportunities while doing it in a collaborative effort between communities, nonprofits, faith based groups, businesses and government entities.
"It’s time for District 7 to have an elected leader that pushes the city administration to create economic opportunities that will that will grow our workforce in District 7 while closing the socioeconomic divide that currently exist in our city, or what is known by many in our community as the two Chattanooga's.
"It’s time for District 7 to have an elected leader that works every day to expand the industrial footprint in our community that continues to struggle with overcoming high poverty, high crime rates, record unemployment rates and poor housing conditions.
"Yes, District 7 needs an elected leader on City Council that brings a new vision, passion and the necessary business experience to advocate for the needs of our community while bringing people together so we can succeed together and make the progress needed to move our city forward. In the coming months, I plan to meet with citizens groups and neighborhood associations across District 7. I look forward to listening to their concerns talking with them about my vision and plan on how we can and will move our city forward.”
Recently, Mr. Oglesby worked as the associate director of corporate engagement for the United Way of Greater Chattanooga where he was responsible for cultivating relations with community and corporate partners to enhance annual giving while providing marketing and technical support to nonprofit agencies throughout the region.
During his time, he was part of the development team that raised more than $13 million in 2013, the most raised by the organization to date in a campaign year.
Previously, Mr. Oglesby worked as the business services representative for the Southeast Tennessee Development District’s Tennessee Career Center where he was responsible for marketing the District and Career Center’s services to area businesses and administering training grants to companies located throughout Southeast Tennessee. He also increased employment opportunities in the region by working with local governments in workforce and economic development programs for local employers, including Volkswagen, Amazon and Wacker.
Mr. Oglesby is a graduate of Tennessee State University/Meharry Medical College with a degree in health care administration and planning.
He and his wife, Sheryl, have a son, Ryan, and daughter, Dominique and three grandchildren. They are active members of Resurrected Baptist Church.