Mayor Ron Littlefield filed a lawsuit in Hamilton County Circuit Court Tuesday, trying to stop a recall election in November.
He also lashed out against those who organized the recall effort.
“This recall effort is a classic example of a dead-end path followed by a narrow minded fringe group fueled by misinformation and blinded by anger,” Littlefield wrote in a news release.
On Tuesday evening, hours after Littlefield’s news release, the City of Chattanooga inserted itself into the middle of the mayor’s lawsuit, giving the city attorney the authority to file a motion on behalf of the city. The city is asking the judge to rule on all questions about the recall process raised by Littlefield’s suit.
PDF of the Mayor’s Lawsuit THE MAYOR’S CASE Among key arguments in Mayor Ron Littlefield’s lawsuit to block a Nov. 2 recall election:* State law only allows recall elections during county or municipal elections* Petitions are supposed to contain a question, not allegations* State law supersedes City Charter on the number of signatures needed to force a recall* Date of signing is required with each signature* Recall effort used a variety of petitions not approved by the Hamilton County Election CommissionSource: Lawsuit filed in Hamilton County Circuit Court HOW THEY VOTEDThe Chattanooga City Council voted Tuesday night to allow the city attorney to join a lawsuit against those seeking to recall Mayor Ron Littlefield. Councilwoman Deborah Scott abstained from the vote because she had not time to read the city’s filing. Councilwoman Carol Berz was absent; the seven other members supported joining the suit.