Katherlyn Geter

Katherlyn Geter is a Democratic candidate for Hamilton County Commission District 5 in Tennessee, challenging incumbent Greg Beck in the May 5, 2026 primary [1]. She previously served as a commissioner for the district from 2018 to 2022 after defeating Beck by 15 votes in the 2018 Democratic primary [4], [10]. Geter opted not to seek re-election in 2022 due to her partner's health issues [4].

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Geter has lived in District 5 since middle school and currently resides in the Talley Center neighborhood north of Woodmore [4]. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human services management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) [4], [6]. Her professional background includes over 25 years of experience in health insurance counseling and outreach education [6]. As of 2026, she works as the Director of Placemaking for Healthy Communities at The Enterprise Center, a nonprofit focused on economic mobility and community health [6], [9].

During her tenure on the County Commission, Geter focused on building presence in the district during the pandemic [4]. Outside of elected office, she was recognized as a White House "Champion of Change" for her work with the Affordable Care Act and received the Barbara Reynolds Don’t Accept 'No' Leadership Award for grassroots healthcare organizing in Southeast Tennessee [6]. She has also been named "Citizen of the Year" by AKA Pi Omega Sorority and recognized by the Orchard Knob Neighborhood Association [6].

In her 2026 campaign, Geter identifies education, healthcare access, and holistic neighborhood development as her top priorities [4]. She argues that District 5, a majority-minority area, faces unique challenges including underfunded schools and disparate health outcomes compared to other parts of Hamilton County [4]. As of late March 2026, her campaign had approximately $1,000 on hand and had received $9,000 in donations, with her largest contribution being $1,000 from Krissa Barclay of the Hamilton County Schools Foundation [4].

Sources

• [1] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
• [2] 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia
• [3] The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart
• [4] Hamilton County Commission: Challenger Katherlyn Geter looking to increase school funding | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [5] Former Hamilton County commissioner to challenge Beck for his seat | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [6] Katherlyn Geter Launches Campaign For Hamilton County Commissioner District 5 - Chattanoogan.com
• [7] Katherlyn Geter seeks Democratic nomination for District 5 seat on Hamilton County Commission | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [9] The Enterprise Center Leaders Share Updates at the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga - The Enterprise Center
• [10] Tim Boyd keeps seat, Katherlyn Geter topples Greg Beck in Hamilton County Commission race | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [11] Katherlyn Geter upsets Greg Beck in District 5, other incumbents win in primaries - NOOGAtoday
• [12] Hamilton County Commission: Incumbent Greg Beck wants more investment in violence prevention | Chattanooga Times Free Press