The Hamilton County Election Commission decided today to bill Chattanooga for legal fees incurred defending the city’s charter.
Chairman Mike Walden proposed the move in today’s meeting.
“I think the city, whose charter has caused this problem, should reimburse the citizens of Hamilton County,” he said.
Elections Administrator Charlotte Mullis-Morgan said commission attorney Chris Clem’s legal fees have been about $9,000 since April.
Commissioner Jerry Summers, who formerly served as the commission’s attorney, began to warn that the city might not pay.
But Clem pointed out that the commission charged the city several years ago in a case Summers defended.
“I set a precedent then,” Summers said. “I think you’re right.”
The commission also voted to place the election for the nonpartisan General Sessions Court judge seat on the Aug. 2 ballot. Whoever is elected with replace Judge Bob Moon, who died suddenly last month.
Read more in tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
Ansley Haman covers Hamilton County government. A native of Spring City, Tenn., she grew up reading the Chattanooga Times and Chattanooga Free Press, which sparked her passion for journalism. Ansley's happy to be home after a decade of adventures in more than 20 countries and 40 states. She gathered stories while living, working and studying in Swansea, Wales, Cape Town, South Africa, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Ga., and Knoxville, Tenn. Along the way, she interned for ...
