Election Commissioner resigns after intoxication charges

PDF: Brandon Lewis arrest report

A Hamilton County Election commissioner resigned Monday after Chattanooga police found him over the weekend passed out and "straddling a stop sign."

"There's really not much I can say," Brandon Lewis, former Hamilton County election commissioner, said Monday. "I don't want to be a distraction to the electoral process."

Mr. Lewis, 30, was arrested Saturday night on charges of public intoxication. He was found "asleep on the sidewalk, straddling a stop sign, almost sticking in the roadway," the police report says.

Mr. Lewis was embroiled in some controversy last week when he sent about 1,600 mailers throughout City Councilwoman Carol Berz's district. The fliers had pictures of Dr. Berz saying she voted for a property tax increase, a stormwater rate increase and annexation.

Some council members protested Mr. Lewis' actions, saying it could possibly be illegal. But state officials said he had broken no law and had a right to free speech.

A month ago, Mr. Lewis also started a website called stopthetaxincrease.org as a protest against any potential city property tax increase.

Charlotte Mullis-Morgan, Hamilton County administrator of elections, confirmed Monday that Mr. Lewis had turned in his resignation, but declined to comment.

Mike Walden, chairman of the Election Commission, said Mr. Lewis did the right thing.

"He did what he thought was best, and I agreed," Mr. Walden said.

He said the Hamilton County Republican delegation would now decide a replacement for Mr. Lewis and submit that to the state election commission.

"I don't think there's any timetable," Mr. Lewis said.

Mr. Lewis appeared in Hamilton County General Sessions Court Monday morning and pleaded guilty to a charge of public intoxication.

According to the arrest report, police received a call for an unconscious man at the corner of Eighth and Lindsay streets on Saturday night. An officer woke him up and he admitted to drinking alcohol, according to police. The report said he could not tell the police officer where he lived and he had extremely slurred speech.

Mr. Lewis said Monday he did not know if he had any aspirations for public office. He is a Republican who owns the business Painter Ready.

He said he thinks Chattanoogans are understanding of mistakes.

"When you're 30, you can't do it like your 20," he said.

Continue reading by following this link to a related story:

Article: Council, election commissioner clash over mailer

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