Effort to recall Chattanooga City Councilman Chris Anderson falling short

photo Chris Anderson

The petition to recall Chattanooga City Councilman Chris Anderson so far has 444 signatures, of which 249 were approved and 195 were rejected, Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Kerry Steelman said Wednesday.

Election commissioners believed the recall effort had until Wednesday to collect the 1,600 signatures needed. However, County Attorney Rheubin Taylor told the commission that the state's position is that the recall effort had until April 29 to collect the signatures.

The campaign has to collect more than 90 percent of the required signatures in the next few weeks.

April 29 is the "drop-dead" date for the recall question to make it onto August ballots. If the petition is turned in with enough validated signatures, the recall question will appear on the ballot, Election Commission Chairman Michael Walden said.

The recall campaign, spearheaded by Charles Wysong, claims that Anderson should be unseated because he has failed to represent his constituents' interests. Wysong is not a resident of District 7, which includes Alton Park, St. Elmo, Piney Woods, East Lake and Cedar Hill.

Anderson dismisses those claims, arguing that the recall is because of his sexual orientation, and is therefore discriminatory and unconstitutional.

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