Four candidates are vying for two open positions on the five-member Red Bank City Commission in the Nov. 5 election, for which early voting begins Oct. 16 and continues through Oct. 31.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press sent the same questions to each of the candidates, whose responses were edited for length and clarity.

Red Bank pays its commissioners $200 per month and its mayor, who is named by a majority vote of commissioners, $300 per month. The city does not provide health insurance to board members, City Manager Martin Granum said in an email earlier this year.

City commissioners oversee a budget of about $12 million, and they attend two work sessions and two regular commission meetings per month along with occasional budget work sessions and strategic planning sessions for the city of almost 12,000 residents.

As of Oct. 11, the candidate with the highest amount in campaign contributions was incumbent Vice Mayor Stefanie Dalton with $9,198, followed by Jeff Price with $7,626, Terri Holmes with $6,592 and Katy MenaBerkley with $4,755.

KATY MENABERKLEY

Age: 43

Education: Bachelor’s in fine art from the University of Georgia

Occupation:

Wife and mother, writer, editor and content strategist, yoga teacher

Family: I have a beautiful daughter with my husband, Joey. We also have two precious and spritely rescue dogs.

Website/social media: facebook.com/KatyMenaBerk ley. RedBank

Contact: yourvoiceisvaluable@gmail.com

Q: Why are you running?

A: During the Red Bank Commission meetings leading up to last year’s 52% tax increase, the skill of compassionate and constructive listening was painfully absent. Instead, I observed public servants who seemed unwilling to find compromise with a large proportion of Red Bank citizens.

In the midst of staggering inflation that has crippled many citizens of all ages, abilities and political preferences, I found this approach unacceptable. I am running to represent those whose concerns were not considered.

Q: Why should voters choose you?

A: I will respectfully listen to all points of view, finding common ground in a manner that uplifts our community and prioritizes smart spending, responsible economic development and compassionate stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Q: What do you feel are the main issues of concern to voters, and how do you plan to address them?

A: The majority of the people with whom I have interacted feel that the property tax increase of 2023 was excessive. On day one, I will thoroughly scrutinize the budget to identify ways to roll back the increase.

Q: Do you think property taxes are too high? If so, what would you cut or change in the budget to enable the town to lower the tax rate?

A: Yes, they are too high. Of the taxpayer money that has been collected, the dollars that have gone to support our first responders, public works and stormwater management are well spent and wise investments. However, I question the money that has been paid to out-of-town consultants. I am also skeptical of the necessity and timing of hiring several new administrative positions at city hall. Those are the primary areas I will reevaluate.

Q: What do you think the future use of the former Red Bank Middle School property should be?

A: I would love to see a green space surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques with many of our very own residents running them. So many people from other communities come and use our taxpayer-maintained pickleball and tennis courts every day of the week. We need to give them a reason to stay here and spend money in Red Bank after they finish their games. This plan had an opportunity to come to fruition years ago but was stalled under the leadership of the current administration.

STEFANIE DALTON

Age: 41

Education: Bachelor’s in English and master’s in social work

Occupation: Licensed master social worker with local mental health hospital

Family: My husband, Bobby, our son, Leon, our rescue dog, Boone, and our rescue cats, Luna and Poppy

Website/social media: votestefaniedalton.com, Facebook @ViceMayor StefanieDalton, Instagram @VoteStefanieDalton

Contact: Stefanie@VoteSte fanieDalton.com, 423-914-1870

Q: Why should voters choose you?

A: I try to be the elected official I would want representing us at all levels of government. As a social worker, I am passionate about transparency and accountability in government and making local government as accessible as possible to my neighbors. Since I was elected, we started livestreaming and recording all of our commission meetings and expanded our community engagement efforts through an email newsletter, social media accounts, a revamped website, informational mailers, new community events and an online portal to pay for permits, report possible code violations and make service requests.

In April 2021, I spearheaded a unanimously supported ordinance to establish citizen advisory boards so that our wonderfully talented neighbors could volunteer to give back to their own community by contributing their time and expertise. I also regularly share our city business on my own social media platform through live porch talks prior to each of our bimonthly commission meetings with Q&A opportunities for the public.

Q: Do you think property taxes are too high? If so, what would you cut or change in the budget to enable the town to lower the tax rate?

A: Red Bank’s current tax rate is more than 25% lower than the Chattanooga area, but provides a similar or higher level of service to our neighbors and business owners.

If I believed the tax rate could be any lower while also paying all 82 full-time city employees fairly, providing those employees with the equipment and resources they need to do their jobs and catching up on generations of deferred maintenance caused by previous administrations’ aversion to making necessary investments in our community, I would not have voted for the last tax increase back in 2023.

Q: What do you think the future use of the former Red Bank Middle School property should be?

A: Of course I have my own thoughts about potential uses for this property, but I am only one individual out of the 12,000 Red Bank neighbors that this property belongs to. From before I was elected to this very moment, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to a community-focused, public input-driven process around the future of this property.

We have held numerous public meetings, workshops and surveys to engage the public around this property since last year. Based on this feedback, our neighbors on average have asked for at least 8 of the 12 acres to be preserved and developed as a park/green/outdoor community gathering space, with the remainder of the property potentially developed with civic uses (library, rec center), commercial/ retail and/or educational uses.

On Sept. 21, we held a widely advertised and well-attended interactive workshop at the site. The input from this workshop will be added to all previous public feedback and synthesized into general concept plans, with a goal to present them to our community later this year.

TERRI HOLMES Age: 43

Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, master’s in education, education specialist degree in education leadership, doctorate in education curriculum and instruction

Occupation: Public school teacher

Family: My husband, Jasin, our daughters, Noelle and Norah, and our dog, Ginger Website/social media:

Vote TerriHolmes.com, Instagram @VoteTerri Holmes, Facebook @TerriHolmesForRedBank Commission Contact: Terri@ voteterri holmes.com, 423-414-4166

Q: Why should voters choose you?

A: The only constant in life is change, and we can either proactively harness and direct that change to grow our city economically and socially, or we can sit back and passively let change happen to us. I hope my neighbors will vote for me because they know they can count on me to carefully weigh and consider the important decisions placed before us and what it means for all of our futures. I’ve lived in Red Bank for half my life, raised my family here, and spent the majority of my teaching career at Red Bank Middle School. This city is near and dear to my heart, and I believe we all have more in common when it comes to our dreams for the future of our community than we have differences.

Q: Do you think property taxes are too high? If so, what would you cut or change in the budget to enable the town to lower the tax rate?

A: What is considered too high? No one, from those on fixed incomes to those that could afford any tax rate, wants an increase.

Yet, we know that to reap the benefits of a safe community, clean and smooth roads and beautiful green spaces, there is a cost.

I have heard people talking about the tax increase the city included in its budget the year before last. I looked into it, and my property taxes went up about $20 a month. I also looked at how that tax increase was being used — mostly to fund cost-of-living increases for city employees, the purchase of necessary replacement equipment and planning initiatives that will help the city set goals for the future. As a public school teacher, I know what it’s like to not have the resources needed to do your job. For me and my family, making sure our city can accomplish our collective goals is worth this investment.

Q: What do you think the future use of the former Red Bank Middle School property should be?

A: I believe citizens, city staff and the city commission must all work together to create and carry out a plan that will meet the needs of all citizens of Red Bank. I would support the space being primarily a green space for neighbors and friends to gather and not have to spend money on an outing. The city would also benefit if something on the property could generate revenue, like an event hall that could host farmers markets, weddings or other special occasions.

JEFF PRICE Age: 60

Education: Bachelor’s in business administration from Samford University

Occupation: Director of group sales at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

Family: Married 37 years to Sandy Price; three adult children and four grandchildren

Website/social media:

VOTEJeffPrice2024.com, Jeff Price for Red Bank Commission on Facebook

Q: Why are you running?

A: I have a deep love for this community, and Red Bank deserves a commissioner with proven business experience in managing resources and personnel. I am committed to helping the city set realistic and achievable goals that benefit all its citizens.

Q: Why should voters choose you?

A: I have the most relevant experience when it comes to addressing the issues facing our city. As a long-term resident, I have witnessed firsthand what works and what doesn’t in Red Bank. I am committed to helping the city move forward while safeguarding against the unintended consequences of rapid change and unchecked spending.

Q: What do you feel are the main issues of concern to voters, and how do you plan to address them?

A: Spending and unprecedented property tax increases at a pace that many of our citizens cannot sustain does not foster trust in our city’s leadership. Most people I’ve spoken with have not seen any noticeable improvement in services despite these rising costs.

Q: Do you think property taxes are too high? If so, what would you cut or change in the budget to enable the town to lower the tax rate?

A: Yes, the recent 52% property tax increase was excessive and unnecessary. You cannot expect citizens to absorb such a significant hike in a single budget cycle. There are more responsible alternatives. Now, the city is planning to issue a $10 million bond for a new public works facility, which could ultimately cost citizens three times that amount due to debt service. We need to operate within a framework that avoids massive tax increases and excessive borrowing. We should only approve budgets and spending that allow for incremental improvements over time. The city’s primary responsibility is to deliver essential services like police, fire and public works. We cannot staff or spend at levels that are misaligned with residents’ personal incomes and the realities of inflation.

Q: What do you think the future use of the former Red Bank Middle School property should be?

A: My first choice would be to establish a community elementary school in the heart of our city. What better way to strengthen a small community? The property was generously donated by the Sliger family decades ago with the intention of it becoming a school. If that cannot happen, then whatever is ultimately recommended for the property should be brought before the citizens through a referendum, allowing the people to decide.