Incumbent Daymon Garrett and challenger Robbie Robertson survived a close three-way battle Tuesday in elections for two Chickamauga city council seats.

Only seven ballots separated the three, as Garrett was named on 292 ballots, Robertson on 286 and incumbent Dan Jefferies on 285.

Election observers are predicting a recount will be called.

Of Chickamauga’s 1,700 registered voters, 463, or 27.3 percent visited the polls Tuesday, well above turnout levels in LaFayette and Rossville elections.

Ray Crowder, mayor for 16 years, ran unopposed, and Don Littleton and Grant Parrish won uncontested in the race for two Chickamauga Board of Education seats.

Garrett is the president of the Merchant’s Association in Chickamauga, and has served. six years on Chickamauga City Council.

“We want to try and get more tourists into town with the battlefield nearby,” he said. “We need signs up that let them know that Chickamauga is here.”

Garrett is the service manager for Chickamauga Auto Center where he has been employed since 1999. He is a 1976 graduate of Gordon Lee High School.

Garrett has served as a member of the Chickamauga Lions Club for 14 years. He has received about 12 awards for service to the community through the Lions Club. He has been a member of Covenant Life Worship Center for six years.

With five children enrolled in Chickamauga City Schools, Robertson said he wanted “to have my part in seeing that they have the best opportunities possible.”

Robertson said he started coaching Little League at age 18 and has worked 27 years with children through coaching. Robertson is on the Gordon Lee High School Council and the Middle School Council, as well as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS, committee, he said.

He is personnel manager for Wilson and Sons Funeral Home. Robertson graduated from Rossville High School in 1975.

Incumbent Jefferies has 16 years of service under his belt.

“I am proud of some of the things we have done on the council,” he said.

Jefferies owns and works at Chickamauga Auto Center. Jefferies is a member of the Chickamauga Lions Club. He received a distinguished service award and Lion of the Year and served as president for two years, he said. He is a member of Clearview Baptist Church.

He attended the University of Chattanooga and received a bachelor’s degree in business. He graduated from Gordon Lee High School in 1961