Chris Anderson

Councilman Chris Anderson's attorney pushed back today's hearing where a local judge was to decide whether to halt the recall effort until he rules on the lawsuit.

Stuart James said he agreed to continue the motion after adding the state and city of Chattanooga to Anderson's lawsuit last week.

The lawsuit was filed in mid-February to block a group of District 7 residents, who are in the process of gathering signatures for a petition that would allow the voters to decide in August if Anderson should be unseated. The lawsuit also asked Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth to find the state statue and city ordinance unconstitutional.

The hearing hasn't been rescheduled.

So far the Hamilton County Election Commission has certified 165 signatures of the 1,600 needed by the April 29 deadline.