RELEASE:Pro-Immigrant Political Group Celebrates Tim Kelly’s Victory in Chattanooga Mayoral Election
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2021
CONTACT
Hamp Price, hamp@tirrcvotes.org
Pro-Immigrant Political Group Celebrates Tim Kelly’s Victory in Chattanooga Mayoral Election
Group reached 20,000 voters after endorsing Kelly in the runoff election.
CHATTANOOGA — TIRRC Votes, an organization aimed at building political power in immigrant and refugee communities, is celebrating Tim Kelly's victory in the Chattanooga mayoral runoff election. The group released their endorsement of Kelly last month signaling that he promised to be a partner in the movement to create an inclusive Chattanooga where all can belong, no matter who they are, where they're from, or how they worship.
Recognizing the power local elected officials have to implement policy solutions that benefit the immigrant and refugee community, TIRRC Votes strategically invests in key races across the state to build more welcoming municipalities that provide opportunities for all families. After endorsing Kelly in the runoff election, TIRRC Votes contacted over 15,000 voters through mail and text messaging while running a robust digital campaign to get out the vote for the pro-immigrant candidate.
The following is a statement from Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, Executive Director of TIRRC Votes:
“Our communities turned out because they know how important it is to have a city government that works to provide opportunities for all families to thrive. Along with our partners, we built a multiracial, multigenerational coalition that got out the vote to make sure the next mayor and city council recognize our power and will implement real solutions that support our communities.
We congratulate Tim Kelly on his victory and look forward to working with him to pass bold policy solutions that unite communities and build Chattanoogans’ shared prosperity. Mayors and city councils have the power to implement policies and programs that protect immigrant families, increase access to good jobs, housing, and education, and create communities where everyone can belong. It's time for a city government in Chattanooga that works for all families, and we will continue fighting to build a welcoming city that recognizes the humanity and dignity of all.”
About TIRRC Votes:
TIRRC Votes makes endorsement decisions based on candidate surveys and interviews to gauge opportunities for potential partnership and candidates’ political will to implement bold policy agendas to support the immigrant and refugee community.
During the Chattanooga general elections, TIRRC Votes contacted more than 27,000 voters through mail, literature drops, phone and text. Because of their efforts in the general election, Chattanooga saw an increase in pro-immigrant voter turnout from the 2017 municipal elections, with more than 40% of pro-immigrant voters casting their very first ballot in a local election.
TIRRC Votes launched in 2018 in response to the unrelenting assault on immigrant families. For the 2018 midterm elections, the new group developed a large-scale electoral mobilization program that engaged nearly 170,000 voters, made 36,000 phone calls and knocked on nearly 19,500 doors.
In 2019, TIRRC Votes invested in the Nashville municipal elections to elect the mostprogressive metro council in history. Twenty-one of the group’s endorsed candidates won their races, including the historic wins of Zulfat Suara, the first Black immigrant and Muslim to serve on the council, and Sandra Sepulveda, the first Latina elected to the council. A powerful team of more than 60 canvassers knocked on over 14,000 doors and contacted more than 42,000 voters in Nashville.