By Michael Davis
Staff Writer
Hamilton County Chancellor Frank Brown has signed an order stating that a former Chattanooga police officer did not meet the requirements to appear on the recent ballot for the sheriff’s race.
Chancellor Brown decided in March that Anthony Chatman did not file certification with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission by the deadline to be placed on the May 2 ballot.
Mr. Chatman told the Hamilton County Election Commission last week that there was no legal record of the judge’s decision to keep him off the ballot.
The order, signed Friday, said, “This is a final order because it disposes of all issues presented to the court.”
But Mr. Chatman said Tuesday that he has qualified as a write-in candidate for the Aug. 3 general election.
“This case is still in the courts,” he said in a news release. “I am still running for sheriff as a write-in under protest because my name should be on the ballot.”
In March, the Election Commission voted to put Mr. Chatman on the May 2 ballot for the sheriff’s race. Later that week, Chancellor Brown ruled that Mr. Chatman did not satisfy the requirements to be placed on ballot.
Sheriff John Cupp, a Republican, will run against Democratic challenger Billy Long in the Aug. 3 general election for sheriff. Independent candidate Dave Alverson also will be on the ballot in that race.
E-mail Michael Davis at michaeld@timesfreepress.com
