Peter Murphy is taking his fight to keep his District 9 Chattanooga City Council seat to court, asking a Hamilton County Chancery Court judge to order a runoff.
Murphy is contesting the results of the March 5 city election, which he lost by six votes to Yusuf Hakeem. At issue is which Hamilton County Election Commission action is definitive: Its certification of the March 5 results or its vote to declare Hakeem the winner after throwing out two write-in votes.
Murphy said the commission’s vote to certify the election means a runoff is required.
He and three city residents filed papers Thursday to sue the Hamilton County Election Commission and Elections Administrator Charlotte Mullis-Morgan. Murphy claims he “is entitled to be a candidate” in a runoff election, and city residents Jessie Phillips, Lettie McIntire and Olin Ivey assert they live in District 9 and “desire to vote” for him.
Murphy had no comment after the lawsuit was filed. Hakeem could not be reached for comment, but he has said his campaign is ready for a court challenge or a runoff.