The judge who blocked an effort to recall Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield received more than $22,000 in campaign contributions from the firm employing the three attorneys who represented the mayor.
Circuit Judge Jeff Hollingsworth said it was common knowledge that he once worked for Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, which employs Littlefield attorneys Hal North, Rick Hitchcock and Tom Greenholtz.
The law firm also represents the Times Free Press.
Hollingsworth ruled Tuesday that recall supporters had failed to obtain enough signatures to launch a recall election on Littlefield. One of the recall organizers, Jim Folkner, said the groups are deciding whether to appeal.
Chambliss, Bahner attorneys contributed more to Hollingsworth's 2006 campaign than any other firm, according to information from the Hamilton County Election Commission.
"I'd been with that law firm for 17 years," Hollingsworth said. "So I would hope people I've been working with for 17 years would support me."
Hollingsworth and his former campaign treasurer, Stephen Jett, another Chambliss partner, said the judge was prohibited by law from knowing who contributed to his campaign.
North, the lead attorney for Littlefield, said the judge did not need to disclose the contributions because he didn't know about them.
"Attorneys all over town gave him money," North said.
Hollingsworth said the contributions are not a conflict of interest.
"It did not occur to me to disclose that (I worked for them) because everybody knew it," Hollingsworth said.
Chattanooga Tea Party President Mark West, a member of the recall effort, said he was "personally concerned" about the contributions, but did not say the judge should have recused himself.
"I don't want to allege there's any kind of conflict here," West said. "I'm going to trust in the goodness of people and the fairness of people."
Richard Beeland, Littlefield's spokesman, said they mayor did not know about the contributions when he hired the attorneys.
"I don't think it would be uncommon for firms to donate to judges," Beeland added.
Hollingsworth said Greenholtz and North were not at the firm when he first ran for office in 2006. Neither man gave Hollingsworth money, but Hitchcock gave $250, records show.
Out of 135 contributions Hollingsworth received in 2006, more than 40 came from Chambliss employees.
He received dozens of contributions from attorneys in other firms, including Miller & Martin, and one $250 donation from Hoyt O. Samples, who is a partner in the firm Samples, Jennings, Ray & Clem.
Samples, Jennings member Chris Clem represented the Hamilton County Election Commission in the recall lawsuit.
Clem said Wednesday he thinks it has been too long since the election for the contributions to have raised the issue of recusal.
"I would've been stunned if we had discovered [Chambliss] did not heavily fund [Hollingsworth's]," Clem said.