Chattanooga City Councilman Andraé McGary will resign his duties as a talk radio show host to run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Andy Berke.
McGary has hosted WGOW-FM Talk Radio 102.3’s “Live and Local” program since May 2010, when he replaced former host Robert T. Nash.
WGOW Program Director Kevin West confirmed McGary’s resignation, which takes effect after “Live and Local” concludes today.
West said he has some guest hosts lined up for next week, but the station hasn’t decided on McGary’s permanent replacement.
“Live and Local” is broadcast five days a week from 1-4 p.m.
Accompanied by his wife and three of his four children, McGary held a news conference today announcing he’ll run in the 10th District Democratic primary in August.
Hamilton County Board of Education member David Testerman also has picked up a petition to run as a Democrat in the primary.
Republicans competing in the GOP primary are Chattanooga businessman Todd Gardenhire and developer Greg Vital.
A Democrat, Berke is mulling a Chattanooga mayoral run. He announced he would not run for re-election after the Republican-controlled state Legislature redrew the 10th District and made it more conservative.
McGary currently represents District 8 on the City Council, which includes the downtown area as well as Clifton Hills and Avondale. He said he won’t seek re-election to City Council if he loses the state Senate race.
If he wins the state Senate race, he’ll have to resign the council seat, according to City Attorney Mike McMahan.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Chris Carroll covers federal politics for the Times Free Press. A Chattanooga native, he went to Red Bank High School and graduated with honors from East Tennessee State University. Chris investigated violent crime, municipal government and hospitals before taking the political beat. For tornado coverage, he and Pam Sohn won a first-place Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors deadline reporting award. In 2010, Chris won the Golden Press Card Award of Merit and another deadline reporting ...
