By the middle of April, East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele will know whether he gets to keep his job.

Thursday, after listening to lengthy closing arguments from both sides, Criminal Court Judge Don Poole recessed the case until April 15.

And before that date, he promised, he will issue his decision.

“Your honor, if the decision has already been rendered, why would we need to meet on that date?” asked attorney Dee Hobbs, who is representing the mayor.

“We might have some things to discuss at that time, fees and things,” the judge responded.

Both sides, in their petitions to the court, have asked that their respective opponents be ordered to pay all costs related to the case, including attorney fees.

Attorney Charles Wright presented the closing argument for the 11 plaintiffs, seven of whom never bothered to come to court while the case was being tried.

“I think it is of interest that most of the (plaintiffs) are not here,” observed Judge Poole, who has emphasized repeatedly that he believes this is a “very, very serious case . . . an ouster petition requires a very high degree of proof.”

The judge began the day Thursday by denying a request by attorney Hobbs on behalf of his client that the case be dismissed because plaintiffs, who rested their case Wednesday, failed to meet their burden of proof.

Attorney Hobbs then called two witnesses – including local public relations specialist Albert Waterhouse – to support his contention that Mayor Steele never did anything that would subject him to ouster.

In their ouster petition, Attorney Wright and his clients argued that the mayor contracted improperly with Mr. Waterhouse to do public relations for the city of East Ridge.

Thursday, Mr. Waterhouse said that he has no contract of any kind with East Ridge, although he still hopes to win one in the future. He has done studies of the community and the ways it could attract more business and create new jobs at his own cost, he said, as part of his effort to develop a plan for the community that would meet its needs.

As part of that process, he said, he has talked to about 40 businesses, 200 citizens, all the elected officials, and a bunch of people from outside East Ridge.

“That’s all part of what we call ‘upfront work,’” he said. “I do that for all my clients . . . If we didn’t do it, we’d be whistling in the dark.”

During cross-examination, however, attorney Wright challenged Mr. Waterhouse’s assertions.

If his firm wasn’t handling public relations for East Ridge, the attorney demanded, why did Mayor Steele instruct freelance writer Dick Cook – who had been hired by acting city manager Curtis Adams to produce some publicity pieces about the community – to get the money owed him from Mr. Waterhouse?

“Isn’t it true Mr. Steele was trying to get him paid through you?” he asked.

“No sir!” Mr. Waterhouse responded angrily. “That’s absolutely not true. Where are you getting that?”

Attorney Wright continued the line of questioning. Isn’t it true, he wanted to know, that the reason Mr. Waterhouse remains confident about the possibility of being hired to handle public relations for East Ridge “because you know Mr. Steele?”

“I’ve got confidence because I know my business,” Mr. Waterhouse shot back. “I take offense at that. Move on!”