Former Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Administrator Rob Healy is contemplating a run next spring against the man who fired him — Mayor Ron Littlefield.

Mr. Littlefield terminated Mr. Healy in March 2006, one day after the then-Parks and Recreation head complained to the City Council about the mayor’s decision to move him back to the city-run Outdoor Chattanooga program.

“That really has no bearing at all on this decision,” Mr. Healy, 57, said Monday. “I’ve moved on to other things, and I would hope the mayor’s moved on to other things.”

Mayor Littlefield declined comment Monday, spokesman Richard Beeland said.

Mr. Healy was in charge of Outdoor Chattanooga, an office that markets the region’s outdoor amenities, before being moved to parks and recreation. Mr. Healy now is president of clothing company RH Apparel.

Before he makes a final decision about seeking office, Mr. Healy said he needs to make sure he has met residency requirements to run for mayor. He said he believes he should be eligible because he has been a resident of Chattanooga since February, more than a year before the March 3, 2009, municipal elections.

A portion of Chattanooga city code adopted in January 2002 stipulates that those elected as mayor must have been a city resident for at least a year before being elected. But the City Charter, which took effect in 1990, states that the one year of residency must be completed by the date on which the candidate qualifies to run.

On Monday, the Hamilton County Election Commission voted to defer the matter until its next meeting at the suggestion of commission attorney Jerry Summers, who briefed the panel on the issue.

The commission’s next meeting has yet to be scheduled, said Charlotte Mullis, the commission’s chief deputy administrator.

Mr. Summers said the commission needs to get a legal opinion on the issue from City Attorney Randy Nelson.

Mr. Nelson was unavailable Monday, but Assistant City Attorney Mike McMahan said any ruling on the qualification matter would come from the county Election Commission.

Mr. Healy said he has no timetable for making a decision on a possible run and will wait to see how the eligibility issue plays out.

“This city’s important to me, and I just want it to be the very best that it can be,” Mr. Healy said. “If I can help in any way … I guess I’ll weigh those options over depending on what they decide over the next few months.”

City mayor is a nonpartisan office, but the leaders of the county’s two major political parties offered their thoughts on the situation Monday.

John Bailes, chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, said Mayor Littlefield has had successes with neighborhoods and with the “Green Committee” that is looking at environmentally related changes and economic development.

But he said the mayor has been criticized for his decision to scale back curbside recycling, over his push for a homeless services complex at the old Farmers’ Market and for his involvement in seeking to help former Councilwoman Marti Rutherford get post-employment medical benefits after her residency controversy.

“At least he’s taken a stand, but it’s been difficult for him,” Mr. Bailes said.

Connie Weathers, chairwoman of the Hamilton County GOP, said while she could not speak specifically on Mayor Littlefield, it generally is difficult to knock off an incumbent.

“It’s certainly going to be an uphill battle,” she said.

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