Commissioners are elected at large for four-year staggered terms. In November 2014, voters approved moving the municipal election date to coincide with the state general election date beginning November 2016. The state general election is held in even years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. New commissioners are sworn in on the first Monday in December. Contact the Election Commission at 423-753-1688.
Following each election, the commission elects one of its members to serve as mayor for a two-year term and chooses a member to serve as vice mayor in the temporary absence of the mayor.
All meetings of the Board of Commissioners are open to the public. Commissioners meet in regular session on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal and Safety building at 601 E. Main Street. Special meetings may be called as needed by the mayor, two commissioners, or the city manager.