Bill Hullander

Bill Hullander is a Republican candidate for Hamilton County Trustee in Tennessee [3]. He previously served as the Hamilton County Trustee, having been elected to the position in 2010 after defeating incumbent Carl Levi [8]. Prior to his tenure as trustee, Hullander was elected to the Hamilton County Commission in 1998 and served until he took office as trustee in September 2010 [11].

As an elected constitutional officer, the County Trustee acts as treasurer for county funds, collecting property taxes and investing temporarily idle funds [2]. During his time in office, Hullander implemented policies allowing partial and prepayments for property taxes and introduced Safe Point and Scanner Systems to his office [5]. He reported that his office collected approximately 97% to 98% of billed taxes for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which totaled over $300 million [6]. Hullander stated that his office turned over $67 million in excess tax fees to the Hamilton County general budget since taking office in 2010 [6]. In March 2025, he proposed a bill to exempt small business owners with under $20 in personal property taxes from paying such levies [9].

Hullander has received recognition for his service, including being named "East Tennessee Trustee of the Year" in 2015 and receiving the State of Tennessee Outstanding Trustee of the Year award in 2018 [5], [7]. He was also elected president of the Tennessee County Trustees Association (TCTA) in November 2017 [5]. In July 2023, he was named the "Statesman of the Year" for Tennessee’s Third Congressional District by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann [11].

Hullander’s tenure included a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former employee Lisa Crane in August 2011, which claimed Hullander removed employees hired by his predecessor. Hamilton County commissioners voted to pay $45,000 to settle the lawsuit in January 2013 [8].

On a personal level, Hullander is married to Linda, and the couple has two children, Matt and Mandy, and three grandchildren [5]. He is a member of Woodland Park Baptist Church and serves on the board of directors for the Hamilton County Farm Bureau and the Medal of Honor Heritage Center [5]. He also organizes monthly hymn sings at his farm in Apison [11].

Sources

• [1] Circuit Court TN Case Finder, Hamilton County Government
• [2] Trustee, Hamilton County Government
• [3] sample ballot
• [4] Bill Hullander - Hamilton County Trustee | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [5] Bill Hullander Named President Of Statewide County Trustees Association - Chattanoogan.com
• [6] County Trustee Bill Hullander Turns Over $8.8 Million In Excess Tax Fees - Chattanoogan.com
• [7] Bill Hullander Honored With State Of Tennessee Outstanding Trustee Of The Year Award - Chattanoogan.com
• [8] Hamilton County votes to pay $45,000 to settle lawsuit against Bill Hullander | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [9] Hamilton County trustee proposes tax break for business owners | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [10] Opinion: Let's not nationalize Hamilton County mayoral race | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [11] Bill Hullander Named 3rd District Statesman Of The Year - Chattanoogan.com
• [12] Hullander leads Levi in trustee race | Chattanooga Times Free Press