FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Long for Mayor 2025
Website: ChrisLongForMayor2025.com
Email: ChrisLong@ChrisLongForMayor2025.com
Phone: (423) 653-3107

CHRIS LONG: "WHILE KELLY ENDORSES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, CHATTANOOGA NEEDS REAL LEADERSHIP"

CHATTANOOGA, TN  - "Our current mayor is busy endorsing presidential candidates while Chattanooga crumbles," declares mayoral candidate Chris Long. According to WalletHub's 2023 City Rankings, Chattanooga ranks as the second-worst-run city in America and 146th in safety out of 149 cities.

My wife and I have been together for over 30 years, building our life in Chattanooga, watching our son pursue his engineering degree. For three decades, I've worked as an architectural and engineering consultant. Growing up at Tyner High School taught me the value of both traditional and technical education. My consulting work in Colorado created school safety legislation now saving lives across America.

The contrast in leadership couldn't be clearer. While Mayor Kelly was busy planning park dreams, Senator Marsha Blackburn and Governor Bill Lee were fighting to protect Tennessee from secret migrant flights into Chattanooga's Wilson Air Center in May 2021. When WRCB Channel 3 exposed these midnight operations, Kelly remained silent. When Senator Blackburn declared "Biden has made every state a border state," Kelly was silent. When Governor Lee demanded answers about unaccompanied minors being transported through our city under cover of darkness, Kelly was silent.

Recent polls show 55% of Americans support decreased immigration, and 53% support deportation of those here illegally (Gallup/Reuters, 2024). Yet while our emergency services strain, local hospitals report millions in uncompensated care, and our schools struggle with overcrowding, Kelly focuses on endorsing presidential candidates.

Reports from the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, Chattanooga Rescue Mission, reveal a stark truth: approximately 60% of individuals are exploiting our homeless services, while the truly needy 40% - our veterans, mentally ill, and local residents who've fallen on hard times - struggle to access limited resources. The Hamilton County Homeless Coalition data confirms this trend. While Kelly's "build it and they will come" approach attracts more people from out of town, our own citizens can't access the help they need. Our plan will implement a verified residency program prioritizing help for local residents and veterans, while connecting out-of-town individuals with resources in their home communities.

Major manufacturers and small businesses tell us the same thing: they want to invest in Chattanooga, but they need a city government that works with them, not against them. Our strategic location, with three interstates, river access, and rail systems, makes us perfect for distribution. These companies understand that a happy employee is a productive employee. They need reliable infrastructure, competitive energy rates through TVA partnerships, and a skilled workforce. Most importantly, they need a city government that understands time is money.

Our "Above and Below" prosperity plan offers real solutions. Above ground, we have more than 50 trailheads within 30 minutes of downtown, generating $1.7 billion in tourism revenue. Below ground, the U.S. Geological Survey confirms our Chattanooga Black Shale contains vast natural resources. Modern manufacturing processes could create more than 2,000 jobs paying $58,240–$120 thousand annually.

The FBI Uniform Crime Report shows violent crime increased 40% since 2020. Our police officers earn 15% less than county deputies. This ends on day one. We'll match sheriff deputy salaries immediately. When you call the city, you'll reach a real person. Our infrastructure will be fixed properly, not patched. We'll implement same-week permitting for businesses. We'll partner with Chattanooga State for customized workforce training.

From day one, this changes. Our "patch and pray" approach to infrastructure ends. We'll fix it right the first time.

As your mayor, silence ends. Action begins. We'll stand with Governor Lee and Senator Blackburn in protecting our city. We'll ensure transparency about any federal immigration operations in Chattanooga. We'll support state and federal authorities in enforcing our laws. Most importantly, we'll put Chattanooga citizens first.

This isn't just politics—it's personal. My wife and I have invested more than thirty years here. We've raised our family here. We've built our life here. Like you, we want our children and grandchildren to build their futures in Chattanooga.

The choice is clear. Continue with a mayor who prioritizes national politics over local needs and stays silent on critical issues, or choose leadership that puts Chattanooga first. The time for talk is over. The time for action is now.

I'm Chris Long. My wife and I have been together for over 30 years, and I've spent those decades solving complex problems and creating solutions As a consultant for colorado springs colorado. that save lives. That same commitment to finding real solutions is what I'll bring to Chattanooga. Let's make our city strong again.

Sources:
WalletHub City Rankings 2023
FBI Uniform Crime Report 2023
U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2005
Bureau of Labor Statistics Q4 2024
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Visit Chattanooga Annual Report 2024
Hamilton County Budget Office 2024
Site Selection Magazine Southeast Report 2024
Gallup/Reuters Immigration Polls 2024
WRCB Channel 3 Investigation (May 2021)
Chattanooga Community Kitchen Assessment 2024
Chattanooga Rescue Mission Reports 2024
Hamilton County Homeless Coalition Data 2024
For more information about our comprehensive vision for Chattanooga, visit ChrisLongForMayor2025.com.

Contact:
Chris Long for Mayor 2025
Email: ChrisLong@ChrisLongForMayor2025.com
Phone: (423) 653-3107
Website: ChrisLongForMayor2025.com