Chattanooga's next mayor will be Andy Berke, who commanded a solid victory over a nominal field in Tuesday's municipal election.
Berke, a Chattanooga native and former state senator, coasted to a win, scoring more than 70 percent of the votes cast in the mayor's race. Candidates Guy Satterfield and Chester Heathington Jr. tallied 23 percent and 3 percent of votes cast, respectively.
Berke, who campaigned nearly a year for the city's top post, said Tuesday he would "work tirelessly for the next four years to justify this great honor." Addressing a crowd of approximately 200 supporters gathered at the Waterhouse Pavilion in Miller Plaza, Berke said the time had come for renewing Chattanooga.
"The people of Chattanooga are ready for renewal, a fresh approach to address and overcome the challenges of our city," Berke said. "We are ready to renew our commitments to this place, to our highest goals and aspirations and, most of all, to each other."
Berke, who is 44, will succeed Mayor Ron Littlefield. Littlefield, who served two terms after being elected in 2005, is term-limited.
Berke will be sworn in as mayor April 15.
Updated @ 10:41 a.m. on 3/7/13 to correct a factual error: Berke will be sworn in April 15, not April 19, as originally reported.
