{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDemetrus \"Meechie\" Coonrod is an Independent candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 28, having previously served as Chattanooga City Councilwoman for District 9 from 2018 to 2025 [1][2]. She challenged incumbent Rep. Yusuf Hakeem in the 2024 Democratic primary for this seat and lost [3].\n\n## Background and education\nCoonrod has spoken publicly about a past felony conviction and time served in prison earlier in her life, which she has said shaped her advocacy for criminal-justice reform and second chances for justice-involved people [1][4]. In 2024 she graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science in sociology and a minor in criminal justice [4]. She was among the first people in Tennessee to have her voting rights restored after a felony conviction [1].\n\n## Career\nCoonrod owns a JanPro cleaning-franchise business and previously served as vice chairwoman, and later chairwoman, of the Hamilton County Democratic Party [5].\n\n## Office history\nCoonrod served on the Chattanooga City Council representing District 9 from 2018 until her term ended in April 2025; she announced in November 2024 that she would not seek re-election [2][6]. Her residency qualifications were challenged in 2024, and a Hamilton County Circuit Court judge dismissed the challenge in June 2024, finding she resided within her district [7].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Demetrus Coonrod - Wikitia](https://wikitia.com/wiki/Demetrus_Coonrod)\n[2] [Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod Announces She Will Not Seek Re-Election - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2024/11/17/495581/Councilwoman-Demetrus-Coonrod-Announces.aspx)\n[3] [Different year, different seat: Incumbent Hakeem fends off challenger Coonrod - Fox Chattanooga](https://foxchattanooga.com/news/local/different-year-different-seat-incumbent-hakeem-hopes-to-fight-off-challenger-coonrod-yusuf-hakeem-demetrus-coonrod-tennessee-district-28-seat)\n[4] [Former felon, current Chattanooga city councilwoman now a college graduate - NewsChannel 9](https://newschannel9.com/news/local/former-felon-current-chattanooga-city-councilwoman-now-a-college-graduate)\n[5] [Demetrus Coonrod seeks District 9 city council seat - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2016/nov/26/demetres-coonrod-seeks-district-9-city-counci/)\n[6] [Chattanooga councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod announces she will not seek reelection - Fox Chattanooga](https://foxchattanooga.com/news/local/chattanooga-councilwoman-demetrus-coonrod-announces-she-will-not-seek-reelection)\n[7] [Judge dismisses challenge to Chattanooga council member's residency qualifications - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/jun/11/judge-dismisses-challenge-to-chattanooga-council/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_028","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN State House District 28"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Demetrus \"Meechie\"","fullname":"Demetrus \"Meechie\" Coonrod","lastname":"Coonrod","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_028","contest_title":"TN State House District 28","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","party":"I","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"I","primary":{"contest":"state_house_028","contest_title":"TN State House District 28","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","party":"I","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"nkrlQBxC2A"}