Larry Grohn, left, and Jack Benson face each other in a runoff election for the District 4 City Council seat.DISTRICT 4 VOTING
Polls will open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the following locations: Silverdale Baptist Church, Concord Baptist Church and Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The runoff election to decide who will round out the Chattanooga City Council will be held today.
Councilman Jack Benson faces challenger Larry Grohn in the District 4 race. Neither candidate received the required 50 percent plus one vote required in the March 5 election.
District 4 includes Concord, East Brainerd, Ooltewah, Summit and Tyner.
Benson has served on the council for 12 years. Grohn is a retired educator.
"I'm thinking we're going to win," Benson said Monday. "I'm not expecting close, but I'm not expecting landslide either."
Grohn would not predict a victory himself.
"The outcome will be what the voters decide," he said. "I'll be happy if I win by one vote."
Grohn said he and campaign workers have gone door to door and telephoned voters to ask for support.
Benson said his campaign also has been out in neighborhoods and making phone calls.
The longtime councilman said he is campaigning on a pledge to maintain stability in the district.
"It's wonderful to change for the good," he said. "But don't change just for change."
Grohn said he believes what he offers is a willingness to examine the city's budget and working cooperatively with new council members and the new mayoral administration.
"I don't believe in change for change either," he said.
Council members and new mayor will be sworn in April 15.