Eli M. Wight

Eli Mellen Wight (May 4, 1841 – January 6, 1881) was an American politician who served as mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Biography

Wight was born in Maine on May 4, 1841. He was educated as a physician. In 1861, he joined the Union Army. In 1864, he was stationed at Chattanooga where he also treated civilians. In 1866, he left the military and remained in Chattanooga where he started his own medical practice. In 1873, he was elected mayor where he focused on reducing the government deficit by shrinking the police department, laying off the city engineer in the winter, closing the Public Works department for several months, and asking the citizens more quickly pay their taxes. In 1876, he was elected to a second term again focusing on fiscal responsibility. In 1878, he ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate for Governor of Tennessee receiving 42,284 votes compared to 89,958 votes for the winner Democrat Albert S. Marks, and 14,155 votes for the Greenback candidate, Richard M. Edwards.

After his defeat, he returned to the practice of medicine. He died on January 6, 1881.