Chris Anderson, candidate for Chattanooga City Council District 7, announced an endorsement on Monday from the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO).
Mr. Anderson said, "The endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Police Officers is recognition of the merit of our crime plan and a number of other policies that have an impact on the safety of Chattanooga. I am appreciative of the endorsement and vow to keep Chattanooga safe through smart public policy and support for the Chattanooga Police Department and its officers.
“Ensuring that our city and my district has safe streets is a mainstay of my campaign and should be a central pillar of public policy for any public official in Chattanooga.
We've got to realize that a well-funded and properly-equipped police department is a big part of public safety.
"Compensation has to be fair to ensure that we're keeping good police officers in Chattanooga. It's not right to vote for across-the-board raises for every single city employee with the exception of the public servants who put their lives on the line every day to ensure the safety of this city; that's why we need a change in City Hall. More than anything, the support of our local police officers affirms that our community deserves better and I'm going to fight for that."
The Anderson for City Council campaign also "reiterated its commitment to supporting creative policies that make our community safer, including better communication between the residents of District 7 and Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Police Department. The campaign took issue with the incumbent's position toward public safety, voting with a reckless administration to give department heads a several thousand dollar raise while leaving out police officers and firefighters. Additionally, the campaign noted additional further momentum by winning a local poll by a sizable margin."
"This election is going to be critical in deciding the future of our city. The next four to eight years are significant to Chattanooga's future and it's a choice between two different visions," said Joda Thongnopnua, Anderson for City Council campaign manager, recognizing the support the campaign has had from the community. "We strongly feel that the endorsement from the police officers who work every day to keep us safe and an impressive showing on the Chattanoogan poll gives us the momentum moving into the final weeks of this election.
"The campaign is continuing to reach out to voters across the district through door knocking, phone calls, and community meetings. More campaign events will be announced in the coming week, with an event anticipated in each precinct of the district."