CHATTANOOGA — The Chattanooga City Council voted 7-1 on May 26, 2026, to create the position of Director of Legislative Affairs in the council office. The new role will serve as a senior advisor and operational lead for the council’s legislative functions.

The position carries a salary range of $91,673 to $135,137, with a midpoint of $110,751. Key responsibilities include researching, analyzing, and drafting policy proposals, ordinances, and resolutions aligned with the council’s priorities. The director will also monitor local, state, and federal legislative actions and assess their impact on Chattanooga, reporting directly to the City Council Chairperson or their designee.

Councilman Dennis Clark supported the measure, saying the council had long discussed the position and that it would “help us do our jobs better. It will be another notch in our belts.” He added, “This position is very common in municipal boards throughout the country.” Councilman Ron Elliott said the administration had assured that the cost of the Director of Legislative Affairs position would be worked into the overall budget.

Councilwoman Jenny Hill cast the sole no vote on the creation of the position. Councilwoman Jenni Berz expressed concerns that the new role would result in overlapping duties in the council office. Berz also said she wished there had been more time to discuss the resolution, which was introduced at the end of the council meeting.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Urban Planning, or equivalent experience, along with 3–5 years of experience in policy research, government affairs, legislative processes, or community relations. Experience working in municipal government or with elected officials is highly desirable. The role also requires occasional evening and weekend work to attend community meetings and council events.