WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsDistrict 6 Council Candidates Go Head to Head

District 6 Council Candidates Go Head to Head

Chattanooga (WRCB) - Candidates is one of Chattanooga's hottest city council races went head to head tonight.  Marti Rutherford and Carol Berz are vying for the District 6 seat Berz now occupies. One the list of questions, crime in the Brainerd area.  "People do not feel safe in Chattanooga," says Rutherford.  Rutherford tells us crime is one of her biggest concerns, especially in district 6.  ""not a day goes by that I don't get a call about a car break in," she says.

Rutherford's opponent and the incumbent, Berz, also acknowledges the problem.  "In out area we are having a lot of petty crime, it is not petty when it happens to you it is terrible," says Berz.  In fact, the end of the year crime report from the Chattanooga Police Department shows the Brainerd area records the highest calls for service in the city and burglaries and auto thefts have risen. 

"we need to look at the use of officers. If there are sworn in officers in the service center and not out the streets, we need to hire civilians to do desk work," says Rutherford.  "We are meeting with police in order to rectify the problems," Berz told the crowd.

Both candidates agree a restructuring of the are with added officers could make a difference.  "Reorganize the way police are doing things," suggests Berz.  "We need more of the highest caliber of officers," Rutherford believes.