Tennessee HJR 1378: Memorials, Retirement - Hamilton County Mayor Jim M. Coppinger -

Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor> 
 
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1378 
By Helton 
 
 
HJR1378 
018145 
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A RESOLUTION to recognize Hamilton County Mayor Jim M. 
Coppinger on the occasion of his retirement. 
 
 WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should specially 
recognize those citizens who have performed with uncommon devotion and enthusiasm 
throughout their years of public service; and 
WHEREAS, Jim M. Coppinger is one such estimable person, who has served since 
2011 as Mayor of Hamilton County, from which position he will retire at the conclusion of his 
current term in office; and 
WHEREAS, throughout his distinguished career, Mayor Coppinger has provided solid 
leadership and thoughtful guidance for his fellow citizens; and 
WHEREAS, born on April 21, 1955, Jim Coppinger has built an incredible legacy of 
leadership, collaboration, and public service throughout his life, estimably serving as a 
Chattanooga firefighter before becoming Chief of the Chattanooga Fire Department and, upon 
retirement, continuing to serve the public as a Hamilton County Commissioner before becoming 
County Mayor in 2011; and 
WHEREAS, Mayor Coppinger is widely known for his successful efforts to attract 
business to Hamilton County and for his sound approach to county finances, including the 
county's AAA bond rating and the area's lowest tax rate in sixty-nine years; and 
WHEREAS, a strong advocate of public education, Mayor Coppinger has long 
emphasized the need to invest in education; in 2019, his initial budget proposal included a $60 
million increase in funding for the Hamilton County Department of Education; and 
WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Schools Foundation recently recognized Mayor 
Coppinger for his tireless advocacy of students and teachers by presenting him with the Hero 
Award; and  

 
 
 
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WHEREAS, another of Mayor Coppinger's important contributions has been his program 
to protect children and nonsmokers from the harmful effects of second- and third-hand smoke; 
through his leadership, all eleven Hamilton County mayors came together to create the Mayors 
Smokefree Community Initiative, which aims to reduce tobacco use and exposure, one of the 
leading causes of preventable death in Tennessee; and 
WHEREAS, in recognition of his significant contributions on behalf of public health 
during his tenure as mayor, he was presented with the Tennessee Public Health Association's 
Partners and Leadership Individual Award; and 
WHEREAS, throughout his illustrious tenure, Jim Coppinger has carried out his 
responsibilities as Hamilton County Mayor with diligence and integrity; his remarkable success 
as a public servant and civic leader is directly attributable to his reliance on the time-honored 
values of hard work and common sense and his uncommon ability to work well with people from 
all walks of life; and 
 WHEREAS, a strong advocate for the citizens of Hamilton County, Mayor Coppinger has 
compiled a singular record of success during his exemplary public service career, and he should 
be specially recognized; now, therefore, 
 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED 
TWELFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE 
CONCURRING, that we hereby commend Jim M. Coppinger for his honorable and astute 
service to the good people of Tennessee as Hamilton County Mayor, salute his unswerving 
commitment to living the examined life with courage and conviction, and extend our best wishes 
for a happy and fulfilling retirement. 
 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared 
for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to 
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear 
without House or Senate designation.