Ouster Petition Filed Against East Ridge Mayor

[CMF Newsman]

A group of East Ridge citizens on Thursday afternoon filed an ouster petition against East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele.

The petition alleges Mayor Steele is guilty of "misconduct in office and/or willfully failing or neglecting to perform the duties of the office."

It was filed with Criminal Court Clerk Gwen Tidwell, who said it was the first time she had received such a petition.

She said she checked the law to see if criminal court was the right vehicle for the petition and found it could be filed in criminal or chancery court.

www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135871.asp

[CMF Newsman]

Woman Says She Was Tricked Into Signing Steele Ouster Petition

An East Ridge woman said she believes she was tricked into signing a petition seeking the ouster of East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele.

Pat Wooten said she was presented a copy of the petition while she and her husband were eating at an East Ridge restaurant.

She said it had no heading, and she was told it had to do with updating the city charter.

"Mike Steele's name was not mentioned," she said.

www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_136072.asp