Mayor Ron Littlefield dodged a bullet when a judge on Tuesday blocked an effort to recall him, but his biggest challenges may be ahead, one political science professor says.
Richard Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and long-time political observer, said there are two ways to look at how the recall ruling will affect Littlefield's political future.
"I know there are some political observers who think that Littlefield has been strengthened by having prevailed in court, but I also know there are other observers who think the process has been harmful for him because it suggests that he has not been as clear in setting objectives and meeting them," Wilson said.
Littlefield did not return a call Friday seeking comment. His spokesman, Richard Beeland, said he doesn't think the recall effort would hurt Littlefield's ability to be an effective leader.
"People having questions is a good thing," Beeland said. "So when you incorporate that into the way you govern, it can only be positive."
He said the mayor would incorporate the residents' questions about taxes, fees, crime and annexation plans into the way he governs.
Still, Wilson said having thousands of voters sign petitions for the recall is "not helpful" to Littlefield. And now, in the final two years of the mayor's second term, "lame duck" syndrome might set in as well, Wilson said.
Littlefield is term-limited and can't run again.
Wilson said the only way Littlefield can succeed is to become a more effective communicator.
"I think he needs to always explain his policies with great care, to make sure he's being as clear as possible about why these things he wants to do are necessary," Wilson said.
Littlefield has said he favors combining city and county government or consolidating some services and preparing the city for anticipated growth once the Volkswagen plant becomes fully operational in early 2011.
Beeland said the "lame duck" issue is "nothing we can't work through."
Nor does the mayor's top communicator agree with Wilson about how well Littlefield has communicated.
"I just think there are some things that the mayor has done that, regardless of when you do it, it's never going to be popular," Beeland said.
PUTTING ON BRAKES
The people behind the recall effort hope it has slowed Littlefield.
Jim Folkner, head of Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield, said the mayor can't talk effectively with voters about what Folkner thinks is bad policy.
The recall organizers have criticized Littlefield's policies, including raising homeowner stormwater fees from $36 to $115.20 per year, his plans for annexation and a recently passed 19 percent property tax increase. They also said Littlefield is not doing enough to address gang violence.
Chris Brooks, creator of Chattanooga Organized for Action, another of the recall groups, doesn't think Littlefield was an effective leader before the recall effort. Littlefield "refuses to justify his positions or his policies," he said.
RECALL ISSUESOrganizers cited several problems with Ron Littlefield's policies, including:* A 19 percent increase in property taxes* Raising homeowner stormwater fees from $36 to $115.20 per year* Aggressive annexation plans* Not addressing gang violence
"If Ron Littlefield's having a harder time being less transparent, or a harder time denying records requests, I don't see that as a bad thing," Brooks said.
COUNCIL OPINIONS DIFFER
Some members of the City Council agreed that the recall effort has been disruptive, but said the mayor can still be an effective leader. They differed over whether he has been a good communicator.
Chairman Manny Rico said the mayor has communicated effectively with the council. But he said communication with the public is a shared responsibility between the council and mayor.
"Sometimes you get into this mode of doing what needs to be done," Rico said. "Maybe we should spend more time letting people know this is what we're fixing to do before we do it."
Councilwoman Carol Berz said she thinks Littlefield has communicated effectively but that some people don't want to hear what he has to say.
Councilwoman Pam Ladd called communication one of Littlefield's "weaker points."
"Had some more forethought been given to communication and disseminating information well, this could have lessened some of the conflict and attention that we've seen in the recent months," Ladd said.
Councilman Jack Benson said he does not think Littlefield's communication has been any less effective than that of other leaders. Benson and Rico said the anger with Littlefield is a byproduct of the bad economy.
"I think all elected officials are going to have to be more attentive to the citizens' need for information," Benson said.
Contact Dan Whisenhunt at dwhisenhunt@timesfreepress. com or 423-757-6481. Follow him on Twitter at http:// twitter.com/DWhisenhunt.