Good morning, welcome friends to the inauguration of Chattanooga's 66th mayor and the swearing in of our city council.

I know everyone up here is incredibly excited to have you as part of this special event.

Of course, no one gets this stage without friends and family and their support.

I know this of course, from my own experience and happy to have my wife Monique with me.

To each of you, thank you for contributing to this moment.

A big piece of Chattanooga's success come from the way that we work together across parties, governments, and even geographic boundaries.

Let me thank the many elected officials who we have here today, and please hold your applause to the end Hamilton County mayor Jim carpenter, commissioner Randy Fairbank's Chip Baker, Greg Martin, Warren Mackie, Catherine Lynn Jeter, and David Sharp, Tennessee state Senator Todd Gardenhire.

We have with us also judges Travis McDonough, Curtis Collier, Russell Bean, Sherry Paty, Clarence Shattuck Tom Greenholtz Gerald Webb and Katherine Crytzer.

It's also always fantastic to have these moments where we can welcome those who have served us in the past.

And I know today we have former mayors, Ron Littlefield, Bob Corker, John Kinsey, and mayor Pat Rose wanted to be here, but was unable to attend.

Please give them a round of applause Cities are dynamic evolving organisms.

They thrive on the energy from innovative creative residents and they change and respond to events like pandemics and tornadoes Chattanooga's story embodies that narrative more than most.

Over my lifetime, we have maneuvered and reinvented and transformed.

Part of that is welcoming and supporting new leadership.

Today, as Mayor Kelly takes the oath and our city council members are sworn in, they become charged with the sacred duty to write the next part of our story.

I have every bit of faith that they will do so successfully.

Congratulations to those who are stepping up to serve.

Each of us understands that you cannot reach your goals alone, and we pledge to support you as we move forward.

That is the way we can make our amazing city even better.

Thank you so much now please welcome our city council chair, Chip Henderson.

Thank you, Mayor Berke.

None of us can truly appreciate the incredible difficult decisions that our mayor has had to make over the past year.

Audience, would you please join me in thanking mayor Berke for his leadership over the past eight years.

At this time, audience, would you please rise for the presentation of flags by the Chattanooga fire department honor guard and remain standing for the national Anthem.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and justice for all.

Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight.

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Please be seated.

At this time.

I'd like to ask the Reverend Ternae Jordan to come and offer a word of prayer.

Let us pray.

Our gracious father, we come this morning, first of all, with Thanksgiving on our hearts, we thank you for the servants, the leaders of this community, who have served in the past, and now those who are being inaugurated to serve this great community.

We thank you for this great country in which we reside.

We pray for wisdom for our new mayor, our council persons who will serve this great community.

Lord we're serving in a time, like none other, for we have experienced over the last year, a time that our country has never seen in our lifetime.

And this time calls for great leadership.

We pray for peace, comfort, and healing.

We pray for families in our community who have lost loved ones, but Lord, we look forward to the future with so much hope.

Give our leaders the wisdom of Solomon that they might lead with integrity and truth.

You are our hope.

It is in your name that we pray.

Amen.

I would also like to recognize at this time, state representative, Robin Smith, who has joined us on this special day.

At this time, I'd like to ask the River City Street Poet to come forward with a special poem that she has written for this day.

When people ask where I'm from, I don't tell them where I was born.

I tell them the name of a city that welcomed me, where my heart feels at home.

This place was a beacon where I exchanged outsider for local.

The first place that didn't scare me from getting a 30 year mortgage.

A place is just dirt.

If community isn't lifted from roots of change, thriving ecosystems only exist because a beautiful range of us dared work together.

We are all residents and stewards of somewhere.

Get involved where your feet meet the ground.

Your street is where your voice makes the loudest sound.

Nine districts filled with colorful characteristics, melt into one Chattanooga.

Decriminalize poverty.

Radicalize generosity.

Imagine the change.

If we knew that human rights were on the ballot and that every voice inherently mattered.

When welcome opportunity and equity are dispersed on a pallet, we create something beyond monochromatic.

When people ask where I'm from, I think of what I've become because of this place.

May we offer the same essence that brought us here or had us stay?

Whatever it is.

It is magic.

At this time, I would like to welcome chairman Chip Henderson to the podium to take his oath of office.

He will be welcomed and joined by his wife, Deanna and family.

Well, I would introduce your family, but it'd take all day.

So I won't do that.

Uh, we'll get him.

All right, we'll get him situated.

Hey guys, Chip.

It's an honor.

It's an honor to invoke this to you for the third time.

This is a time we will not forget I'm sure.

All right.

If you'll put your hand on your Bible, raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I, and state your name.

I Chip Henderson do solemnly swear.

You solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States of America.

And I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state of Tennessee, and that I will faithfully uprightly.

And honestly, and that I will faithfully and uprightly and honestly demean myself as a council person, demean myself as a council person of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a city of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee during the continuance of my office, during the continuance of my office and that I possess all the qualifications and I possess all the qualifications and that I am free from all the disqualifications and that I'm free from all of the disqualifications prescribed by the charter of the city prescribed by the charter of the seat for the office of council person, with the office of council person, and that I will without fear, and that I will, without fear partiality or favor partiality or favor, faithfully discharge, faithfully discharge and perform all the duties and perform all the duties that may be prescribed by law may be prescribed by law upon me as a council person, upon me as a council person of the city of the city, or as may be required by any ordinance or as may be required by any ordinance or resolution for the city council of the city or resolution by city council of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

So help me God.

So help me God Congratulations to you.

They've asked me to sign this before I leave the stage.

Isn't it great to be back here in the Tivoli?

At this time, council woman elect Jenny Hill will be sworn in by judge Clarence Shattuck.

She is joined on stage by Jason Hill and her family.

Okay, Jenny, it's certainly a pleasure and honor for me to swear you in, uh, we go to the same church I live in your district.

So I don't remember that.

I'll remember that.

Okay.

So I know who to call now whenever.

All right.

Let's see.

Once we get up a little closer here, that way we'll pick up on the microphone.

Jenny, if you would hold up your right hand, repeat after me, I, Jenny Hill do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of United States of America.

I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state.

And then I will faithfully uprightly.

And honestly, to me, honestly, myself as a council person to the city of Chattanooga, as a council, during the continuous in office, during the continuance in office and that I possess, all the qualifications and possess all of the qualifications and I am free from all the disqualifications.

I am free of all the disqualification, prescriber, the charter of the city of Chattanooga by the charter of the city of Chattanooga.

And that I will without without fear, partiality or favor, I will without fear partiality or favor safely discharge and perform faithfully discharge and perform all the duties that may be prescribed.

All the duties that may be prescribed by law under me as a council person, as a city of Chattanooga bylaw under me as a council person, or as may be required by any ordinance, or is maybe required by any ordinance or resolution as a city council or a resolution of the city council of the city, of the city of Chattanooga.

So help me God.

So help me, God, God bless you.

Good luck.

And now Vice chairman Kim Smith will be sworn in by judge Sherry Paty.

He will be joined on stage by his wife, Cinnamon and his family.

And it's an honor for me to swear you again and again for the third time as well.

Um, you you'll raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I Ken Smith.

I Ken Smith.

Do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution, that I will support the constitution of the United States of America United States of America and the constitution and the constitution of the state of Tennessee, of the state of Tennessee, and that I will faithfully and that I will faithfully uprightly uprightly and honestly, and honestly demean myself demean myself as a council person, as a council person of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, during my continuance in office, during my continuance in office, and that I possess all of the qualifications and then I possess all the qualifications and that I'm free from all of this, all of the disqualifications free from all of the disqualifications prescribed by the charter prescribed by the charter of the city of the city for the office of council person for the office of council person.

And that I will, and that I will, without fear without fear, partiality or favor partiality or favor faithfully discharged, faithfully discharged and perform all of the duties and perform all of the duties that may be prescribed that may be prescribed by law, by law, upon me as a council person, upon me as a council person of the city of the city, or as may be required, or as may be required by any ordinance, by any ordinance or resolution or resolution of the city council of the city council of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

So help me God.

So help me, God.

Judge, I think a lawyer must have written these oaths.

At this time.

Councilman Darren Ledford will be joined on the stage by judge Thomas Greenholtz and his wife Kelly and family.

Thank you for allowing me to be a very small part of this special day councilman.

And this is now my second time having the privilege of doing this.

If you'll please place your hand on the Bible, raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I, Darren Ledford, I Darren Ledford, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution, that I will support the constitution of the United States of America, the United States of America and the constitution and the constitution of the state of Tennessee, the state of Tennessee, and that I will faithfully and that I will faithfully uprightly uprightly and honestly.

And honestly demean myself demean myself as a council person, as a council person of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, during my continuance in office, during my continuance in office and that I possess, and I possess all of the qualifications all of the qualifications and that I am free from, and I am free from all of the disqualifications prescribed by the charter of the city prescribed by the charter of the city for the office of council person or the office of council person.

And that I will, and I will, without fear without fear, partiality, partiality, or favor for favor, faithfully discharge, faithfully discharge, and perform and perform all of the duties, all of the duties that may be prescribed by law that may be prescribed by law upon me as a council person, upon me as a council person of the city, or as may be required or may be required by any ordinance, by any ordinance or resolution or resolution of the city council of the city council of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Now, Councilman Isaiah Hester will be sworn in by judge Gerald Webb.

He will be joined by Patrice Hester and family.

Additional raise your right hand for me and repeat after me.

I, Isaiah Hester, Isaiah Hester do solemnly swear or solemnly swear that will support the constitution of the United States of America support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution state of Tennessee.

And that will faithfully, that I will faithfully uprightly of rightly and honestly demean myself honestly demean myself as a council person of the city of Chattanooga as a council person, city chair, during my continuance in office, am I contains and that I possess all the qualifications.

I possess all the product case and I am free from all of the disqualifications.

I'm free of all of the disqualifications prescribed by the charter of the city described by the charter of the city for the office of council person, for the office of council person.

And that I will, without fear that will involve partiality or favor, Partiality or favor.

Faithfully, discharge, and perform, but you can discharge and perform all of the duties that may be prescribed.

All of the duties that may prescribed by law upon me by law, or pardon me as a council person of the city as a council person, or as may be required as maybe required by any ordinance or resolution by any ordinance or resolution of the city council or the city council of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee city Chattanooga Tennessee.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Congratulations.

Councilwoman, Carol Berz, will now take her oath.

She'll be sworn in by judge Travis McDonogh.

She'll be joined on stage by Chuck Dupree And family.

Oh wow.

Carol, it's an honor to be a part of this.

And why don't you go ahead and introduce your family before I administer that?

Okay.

Well, Chuck, my long suffering has been Dr. Kate Berz from Cincinnati, uh, Lucy Berz, Dane, and her brother Avi Berz Dane, Jenny Berz and Aiden Simmons.

Who's a scholar at UTC.

Thank you, Jenny.

Raise your right hand.

Are you ready?

I guess once again, repeat after me, I, Carol Berz Carol Berz.

There's solemnly swear.

Do you solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States of America that I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and that I will faithfully and that I will faithfully uprightly.

And honestly uprightly and honestly demean myself demean myself as a council person of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee as a council person to the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee during my continuance in office, during my continuance in office.

And that I possess and that I possess all the qualifications, all of the qualifications, and then I am free and that I am free from all of the disqualifications, all of the disqualification prescribed by the charter prescribed by the charter of the city for the office of council person of the city for the office of council person.

And that I will, and that I will without fear partiality or flavor without fear, partiality or favor, faithfully discharge, faithfully discharge, and perform all of the duties and perform all of the duties that may be prescribed by law that may be prescribed by law.

Upon me, upon me as a council person or the city as a council person of the city, or as may be required, or as may be required by any ordinance or resolution by any ordinance or resolution of the city council of the city council of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

So help me God.

So help me, God.

Congratulations.

And now councilwoman elect Raquetta Dotley will be sworn in by judge Gerald Webb.

She is joined on stage by Philip Jackson, Jr. And family.

Council woman if I could get you to raise your right hand for me and repeat after me, I Raquetta Dotley do solemnly swear or solemnly swear that will support the constitution of the United States of America.

that I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state of Tennessee, and that I will faithfully and I will faithfully.

Uprightly upright and honestly demeaned myself.

And honestly demean myself as a council person of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a council person or the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee during my continuance in office, during my continuous in office and that I possess all the qualifications and that I am free from all of the disqualifications and that I'm free from all of the disqualifications prescribed by the charter of the city.

prescribed by the charter of the office of council person or the opposite c ouncil person.

And that I will, and then I will, without fear partiality or favor partiality or favor faithfully discharge, faithfully discharge, and perform all of the duties, faithfully discharge and perform all of the duties that may be prescribed by law that may be prescribed by law.

Upon me as a council person of the city, upon me as a councilperson of the city, or as may be required by any ordinance or maybe as required by any ordinance or resolution or resolution of the city council of the city of Chattanooga or the city council of the city of Chattanooga.

So help me God.

So help me, God, congratulations.

Thank you.

Taking his oath at this time.

Councilman Anthony Byrd, he'll be sworn in by judge Clarence Shattuck and be joined by Valerie Penn and family.

Thank you.

Thank you for this honor.

And thank you for all the years that you've worked with me as a clerk.

Yes, sir.

I'm glad you're back up there at the court though.

Of course.

If you would hold up your right hand, repeat after me.

Uh, Anthony Byrd do solemnly swear.

I, Anthony Byrd do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of United States of America.

And I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state of Tennessee.

And I will faithfully uprightly and honestly, and I will faithfully upright and honestly demean myself as a council person, as a city of Chattanooga demean myself as a council person of the city of Chattanooga during my continuance in office, do I, my concern with an office and that I possess all the qualifications, and I possess all of the qualifications and I am free from all of the disqualifications and I am free from all of the disqualifications prescribed by the charter, the city of Chattanooga prescribed by the charter of the city of Chattanooga and that I will, and that I will without fear partiality or favor without fear of partiality or favor by food discharge and perform faithfully discharge and perform all the duties that may be prescribed below all the duties that may be prescribed by law as a council person, the city, as a council person of the city, or as may be required, or as may be required, but any ordinance or resolution of the city council or any ordinance resolution by the city council.

So help me God.

So help me, God, God bless you.

Thank you sir.

Now council woman Demetrus Coonrod will take her oath sworn in by judge Gerald Webb.

She'll be joined by Peyton Strickland and family.

Can you raise your right hand and repeat after me, I Demetrus Coonrod do solemnly swear do solemnly swear.

I will support the constitution of the United States of America, that I will support the constitution of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state of Tennessee.

And that I will faithfully and I will faithfully uprightly up right now and honestly demean myself and honestly demean myself as a council person or the city of Chattanooga as a council person of the city of Chattanooga during my continuance in office.

during my continuance in office and I possess all the qualifications qualifications, and that I am free from all of the disqualifications free from all the disqualification prescribed by the charter of the city.

prescribed the charter of the city for the office of council person, like the office of council and that I will, and that I will, without fear, without fear partiality or favor or favor faithfully discharge, and perform all of the duties that may be prescribed by law and may be prescribed by law.

Upon me as a council person of the city council, or it as it may be required, may be required by any ordinance or resolution by any ordinance or resolution of the city council of the city of Chattanooga, not the state of council of the city of Chattanooga.

So help me, God.

Congratulations.

And finally, mayor elect Tim Kelly will now be sworn in by judge Travis McDonough.

Somebody out there likes you, mayor.

He is joined onstage by his wife, Jenny, Jack, Cannon Kelly.

Tim, it's my honor.

Thank you.

to administer this oath.

Are you ready?

Ready?

Alright.

Repeat after me.

I, Tim Kelly, Tim Kelly, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution that I'll support the constitution of the United States of America, of the United States of America and the constitution of the state of Tennessee and the constitution of the state of Tennessee that took out too, and that I will faithfully and then I will faithfully uprightly and honestly uprightly.

And honestly the main myself mean myself as mayor of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as mayor of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, during my continuance in office, during my continuance in office.

And that I possess all the qualifications and then I possess all the qualifications and that I'm free.

And then I'm free from all of the disqualification from all the disqualification prescribed by the charter of the city prescribed by the charter of the city for the office of mayor, for the office of mayor and that I will, and that I will without fear partiality or favor without fear partiality or favor faithfully discharge and perform faithfully discharge and perform all of the duties, all of the duties that may be prescribed by law that may be prescribed by law upon me as mayor of the city, upon me as mayor of the city, or as may be required, whereas maybe required by any ordinance or resolution by any ordinance or resolution of the city council of the city council or the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

So help me God.

So help me, God.

Congratulations.

I just got a free pen.

Well, good morning, everybody.

Thank you all so much for being here and to those at home watching.

Thank you for tuning in.

Thank you also to the people of Chattanooga for entrusting me with this great responsibility and privilege and having the confidence in my vision to choose me as your next mayor.

To Mayor Andy Berke.

Thank you.

Thank you for your steady compassionate leadership over these past eight years over your two terms, you've shown us your resolve as well as your heart in times of unprecedented crisis, you steered our city through the storm and you kept us safe.

and you also wisely invested in our future generations.

When you created over a thousand additional quality, early learning seats, providing thousands more children in our city, the opportunity to start kindergarten with the tools they need to succeed and thrive throughout their lives.

Our city is stronger because of your leadership and vision.

And I'm looking forward to continuing the good work you began at city hall.

Let's have a round of applause for Mayor Berke.

I want to give a special acknowledgement to all the people who believed in me and our campaign, even when things got tough or when election day felt like years away, which it often did and particular to my amazing wife, Jenny, and to my two sons, Jack and Cannon, thank you for being with me every step of the way and to the many friends and supporters who believed in me and gave me the support and encouragement along the way.

Thank you.

I also want to say thank you to all the incredible people I met along the way.

I've learned that one of the greatest pleasures of running for public office, as you get to know a lot of people that you otherwise might not have, and you get to see how many people truly care and believe in this city.

And that includes every single candidate who ran for mayor all 15, including me, I suppose, especially Kim White.

National politics is more divisive than ever these days.

And yet here in Chattanooga, we were able to stay focused on the issues and our passion for this city.

And that's a credit to Kim's commitment to our civic dialogue.

I have no doubt we share a common love for this city and that she wants the very best for our community too.

So I look forward to working with her to ensure Chattanooga is realizing its full potential.

As we begin... As we begin a new chapter in our city and gathered the data, celebrate our future.

It's important to take a moment to reflect on how we arrived here.

Throughout my campaign, I talked about how Chattanooga is an extraordinary city, not because of our gig or our tourism sector or even our great rivers and mountains.

All of which are vital assets to our city.

No, we're truly extraordinary because of our people for years, Chattanoogans have leaned, have leaned into the hard work.

We join arms and we'd get involved.

And together we woven that commitment to each other, into the character of our city.

It is in many ways what it means to be a Chattanoogan.

I love my Chattanooga FC games so much because we're it's where I can always go to feel that spirit and ample supply it's that very same spirit that transformed a small trading post on the Tennessee river into a thriving city, recognized around the globe as one of the best places in the world to call home.

It's the spirit that allows us to accomplish great things that other cities can't seem to and it's why Chattanooga has been blessed to have a long legacy of community leaders whose heart for service and vision carried us into a brighter future.

Some of the finest took on this work through elected office, leading from city hall, mayor Kinsey expanded our city's parks and invested in our neighborhoods mayor and then Senator Corker re-imagined our downtown streets and led the creation of our waterfront.

Mayor Littlefield transformed our digital infrastructure together with EPB to become the first city with municipal gigabit, gigabit, internet, and Mayor Berke of course invested in the next generation of Chattanoogans by expanding early childhood education and let our city's economic recovery after the 2008 recession.

Each of these mayors had a vision for what our city could be, but they knew that the work was done together with the community.

It is an honor and a privilege to stand on their shoulders and continue that work.

And I will do it in exactly the same way: with the extraordinary people in this community.

But it's not just mayors and elected officials.

Who's trans who have transformed our city.

Our city has been shaped by everyday Chattanoogans who stepped up to what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr called the fierce urgency of now.

This is a city shaped by the legacy of civil rights leaders, incredible leaders like Styles Hutchins, Maxine Cousins, and representative Tommy Brown.

Chattanooga is all of these things.

It's shaped by all of us.

And I believe we have the capacity to be the best city in America.

If we to rise, to meet the moment with the fierce urgency of now, those that know me best know that I have, shall we say a bias towards action while at times that trait can be difficult, especially for those around me, I think it will serve the people of Chattanooga very well over the next four years, because while we've made a lot of progress as a community, that progress invites new challenges and opportunities.

Too many in our community are still left out of that story of progress.

We've seen many of our neighborhoods come roaring back, but others are still very distant from prosperity.

There are too many families where every adult and some teenagers are out working multiple jobs and still struggling to make ends meet.

Meanwhile our community is still grappling with the tragic costs of COVID-19 from closed businesses, lost jobs and dearly missed loved ones.

These are big challenges.

But as I said before, I know we have what it takes to meet those challenges head on, and we can do it together as one Chattanooga.

And we will do just that.

Together we will build a better economy than the one we left behind before this pandemic began.

One that includes all of our neighbors, regardless of their zip code.

We will secure the future of our children by investing in thousands more early learning and pre-K seats over my term.

And under my leadership Chattanooga, we'll get back to basics.

Our city services will be responsive, cost-effective and we will clearly communicate how, when and where things are going to get fixed, to put it simply, we're going to fill a lot of potholes and pave a lot of roads, striving to make this a more enjoyable and efficient city for all of its residents.

The work won't be easy.

The vision won't be realized overnight, and it can't happen without commitment and help from each of you.

Chattanooga is a city that has never shied away from doing big things and taking on difficult problems.

And under my leadership, that is one thing that will not change.

Alongside each of our neighbors, we'll dig into the work together and along and together, we will build a stronger, more prosperous city around our shared vision and our common purpose.

So thank you again, Chattanooga for giving me the opportunity to lead as we begin this next chapter of our city.

I will do my dead level best to make it the brightest chapter in our history.

So now let's get to work.

On behalf of Mayor Kelly and the Chattanooga City Council, we would like to thank you for joining us on this special occasion.

And at the conclusion of this program, we'd like to invite you to join the council and the new mayor on a walk to city hall.

Thank you very much for being here today,