Recall Ron Last Stand at Appeals Court

[apriled]

It was a hot, humid summer in 2010, political tensions were high with citizens tired of being bull dozed by a corrupt political power structure (how is that for drama effect)? ;D ;D ;D

Jim Folkner formed the Citizens to Recall Ron, Chris Brooks began to form Chattanooga Organized for Action, the Chattanooga Tea Party all joined hands in the largest bipartisan campaign that has ever occurred in Chattanooga. Collectively the groups were very liberal to very conservative, yes they were I was there. In fact, collectively they could only agree on one issue, that Mayor Littlefield HAD TO GO!

The Recall was a real deal grassroots action. As for me, I was working on Team Haslam, and quickly got drawn into movement.

The Recallers were marginalized and treated terribly by local media for challenging the corrupt power structure in Chattanooga that view the taxpayer's money as theirs to steal for land deal for TN Pars, and no bid contracts.

Long story short, Littlefield has filled one lawsuit after another to stop the recall. Interestingly enough, his attorney firm Chambliss, Bahner, Stophel, whatever, are responsible for over 42 percent of Judge Hollingsworth's campaign fund, and he would not recuse himself. The appeals court sided with the Recallers and overturned Judge Hollingsworth. Littlefield filed a second lawsuit, and again Hollingsworth ruled against the Recallers ad would not recuse himself.

This is the Recallers last stand, they filled an emergency brief this week to the appeals court, and have requested an expedited hearing to stay Judge Hollingsworth's injunction and allow the election to proceed. A long shot, but I admire steadfast diligence.

recallron.com/images/files/brief%204_11_12.pdf

[JC]

It's no secret that I have questioned Folkner's intentions for wanting Ron recalled. There's certainly enough evidence to support his intentions as simply to garner votes for his own desire to be mayor from Ron haters.
Evidenced by running for office in Red Bank (withdrawing only after a shot at mayor opens up) and being first in line to fun for mayor of Chattanooga in December (correct month?)

And although I want Ron recalled, too, I question the smarts of the Recallers for actively perusing the recall this late in Ron's term. I mean, if he is recalled, his last term in office will be nullified and he can run again. And with the likes of Brenda Washingtons out there voting, there's a chance he could very well be reelected again.

That said, I would love to see disciplinary actions taken against Hollingsworth from this fiasco.
I would also pay damn good money to witness Ron's removal from office if the appeal is won.... especially after a SWAT spokesman stated Chattanooga SWAT will be on hand for the "event" (event of the decade?).
So, here's hoping the recall takes place, I guess.

[apriled]

JC, you have a good point.

There are a lot of people that state to me that Chris Brooks and Jim Folkner leveraged the recall for self serving purposes, to empire build. I know them both, and would have to say that Chris in his liberal way, really does want to make local government more accountable, and there may also be self serving ventures in both cases. Their hearts are in the right place.

There is not a chance Littlefield would be re elected, no Way.

[Gary]

It did not help the recall movement at all over how disorganized they were - multiple petitions, unverifiable information, undated signatures, etc.

[apriled]

Gary, petitioning with Grassroots volunteers is always disorganized. I worked on a liquor by the drink petition that had a percentage of the registered voters for a referendum along time ago, same as the recall. OMG, unless you have enough money to hire people, it will always be disorganized with 100 percent volunteer workers. Local campaigns are generally the same.

The Charter does not require dates, and the charter is the governing document. Hollingsworth is wrong, and he will overturned on that issue in the new appeal. Betcha. :-)