NASHVILLE — Former Chattanooga Councilwoman Marti Rutherford could be banned from seeking her old District 6 seat for a decade under a bill being pushed by state Rep. Tommie Brown, D-Chattanooga.

The bill would disqualify any elected official who is removed or resigns from office because he or she does not meet residency requirements from running for the office again for 10 years.

Ms. Rutherford quit the City Council last year after questions were raised about whether she lived in the district. The city attorney said she did not in an ouster lawsuit that he filed.

Rep. Brown, who last year sought a state attorney general’s opinion on the Rutherford situation, said Tuesday that voters remain upset about the case. She said that while her bill is an attempt to address Ms. Rutherford’s situation, it also would affect any current officeholder lying about where he lives.

“I wanted a deterrent so you think twice,” Rep. Brown said.

Earlier in the day, the legislation ran into trouble in the Senate State and Local Government Committee. Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, questioned the sponsor, Sen. Beverly Marrero, D-Memphis, about where she got the bill.

Sen. Marrero initially said she got the bill from the Shelby County Election Commission. But Sen. Watson noted that Rep. Brown was listed as the House sponsor, and he cited the Rutherford controversy.

“That, I believe, is the origin of this piece of legislation,” he said.

Her memory jogged, Sen. Marrero then recalled Rep. Brown gave her the bill.

Sen. Watson later said he is not necessarily opposed to the concept of the bill.

“I think the committee is trying to determine what is a reasonable penalty,” he said, noting he also was not sure the bill could be applied to Ms. Rutherford.