A group trying to force Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield from office argued its case to a state appeals court Wednesday morning, saying a Circuit Court judge had no jurisdiction to stop a potential recall election.
An attorney representing Littlefield countered that a recall election would have been illegal under state law.
Jim Folkner, with Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield, said the arguments presented by the mayor's attorney are just window dressing.
"No matter what we would have turned in, it would have been wrong," Folkner said.
Three groups -- Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield, the Chattanooga Tea Party and Chattanooga Organized for Action -- collected signatures last summer to force a recall election. The groups said they gathered 15,000 signatures, enough under city statute to force a ballot question.
Littlefield sued the Hamilton County Election Commission to stop the recall from appearing on the November ballot, and Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth sided with him, saying recallers did not have enough valid signatures under state law.
Folkner and his group appealed and are awaiting a decision by the three-member appeals board in Knoxville.
Tom Greenholtz, an attorney for Littlefield, said the state statute prevails in this case.
"It's no question it [the recall] was unlawful," he said.
He reiterated that the groups did not have the needed signatures under the state law and said he argued to the panel that the Circuit Court has the authority to stop an illegal petition.
He said he would expect a decision from the appeals court within three months.
Chris Clem, attorney for the Hamilton County Election Commission, also made some arguments during the hearing.
He said the commission wants clarification of the state statute. He said he would like more interpretation of the law, because the last time a judge ruled on the statute came in the 1940s.
The law is old and flawed, he said.
"It's been 60 years since someone interpreted it," he said.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
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payingattention,
What do you mean by TN Par? Not sure what Par means?
This whole thing stinks! If nothing else is learned, everyone should register to vote and VOTE! I believe only 18 percent of registered voters came out the last election...YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT!
RECALL RON! and vote the majority of the current city council memebers out.
Thanks Payingattention.
Does it not bother anyone else that the Election Commission made a mistake or so it would appear? And the top administrator(mayor)did not say anything until the deadline had passed, so the "recall" would be thrown out? The Honorable thing for the mayor to have done was to say, this is how you do it, if you dont want me, then this is what you have to do, if it succeeds, the people have spoken, if it does not succeed, lets carry on. This is an office (election commission) designated to validate the "election process" that so many men and women gave their lives for so we could vote! Any deviation, deception or other malpractice in this office is the same as spitting on the graves of all those that organized this great country and fought and died to preserve it. Yes, it is that deep!
News flash.... Littlefield is supporting metro government for two reasons.
The first is that his power structure cronies want to grab control of the county government just like they control the city government. This won't same money, just look at the consolidated school system to see what kind of mess metro would be.
The second is that Littlefield can't run for mayor anymore. That's a pretty good paying job that is going to end. He is looking at running for metro mayor (Sounds like a super hero). Then he can be perpetual government employee.
Actually Littlefield couldn't get elected as rat catcher. But you can look for Wacky-Zach Wamp to "apply" for the position.
Wacky Zach did such as good job in Congress. He never met a war he wouldn't support, a bailout he wouldn't vote for, a term-limit promise he wouldn't break, and his little house on "C" Street where God's chosen people (if you're a Christian hypocrite) loved to stay.
Don't forget that Littlefield and Wamp couldn't wait to put Mike Carter in the County Mayor's seat to ease into consolidation.
harrystatel.....It could be worse, Zach's little pup want to be a congressman. He is all of twenty something and thinks he is qualified. A whole family of professional politicians.
Honestly, Zach Wamp would be a much better mayor than Littlefield. Heck, a 2 year old would be a better mayor than him. Its rather obvious that Littlefield wants control of the city and county. You just watch, we won't let him do metro so he'll run for county mayor next. He's an idiot and has taken away the benefits of our firemen and police officers. how about instead of taking away the cars that were part of their paycheck he cuts his paycheck, and everyone else who is overpaid in this city government. That way our civil servants will at least be a little closer to getting the paycheck they deserve.
Exchanging a Wamp for a Littlefield is like swapping dirty underwear with another. It's a different pair but still stinks.
Wamp and Littlefield are symptoms of the problem with the overall quality of person who ends up in politics. Neither Littlefield or Wamp ever accomplished anything in their before politics that prepared them for leadership. Obama is in the same boat. He had no experience at all and is the low standard out there. It is really showing now because he doesn't have a clue.
As far, as Wamp and Littlefield, they are power structure hacks who do what they are told.
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