I realize that I should not speak unless I am knowledgeable of the subject. But, in my opinion, and from what all I've read in the Chattanooga paper and from people I know in Chattanooga, the mayor has been an excellent mayor.

I lived in Hixson until 1983 and taught at Edmondson College and Chattanooga State. Don't know what these people have as a problem with him, but he has done so much for the city.

Sara E. Freeman
Seymour, Tn.

* * *

Knowing Ron Littlefield, is knowing his character. He is the same Ron no matter where or when you see him. I have had the privilege of being in his company over the past several years as a friend, allowing me to observe Ron's ability to handle every type of circumstance with a humble spirit, vision and dignity.

Some of those times include:

campaigning
his own serious illness
Lanis's hospitalization & therapy (over many months)
(how many husbands would be willing to be the main caregiver for their wife and attend therapy sessions?)
traveling overseas
responding to the Katrina victims with tears in his eyes
campaigning again
standing firm on his principles
treating the public with kindness - even when interrupted during a personal dinner out.
praying for our city over and over again
leading our Bible study
hearing about he and Lanis driving around the city and walking on the Walnut Street Bridge during his time off because he loves our city and enjoys interaction with the people
traveling and working relentlessly as a part of a team to bring VW to our city
being available as a regular person who lives in a regular neighborhood in a regular house
watching him live a political and personal life of integrity with his priorities in order.

Ask anyone who works for Ron Littlefield what the climate is in City Hall. They are a family of people who work alongside Ron with pleasure. His compassion with expectations from those who work with and for him produce efficiency and a desire to please.

The current "attacks" being fed upon with frenzy by the "uninformed" are infectious and unfounded. Recall signatures are being sought from elderly who don't even understand what they are signing, late night patrons of drinking establishments, and from uninformed people who only hear the word "taxes".

How many of them have taken the time to really understand the 'reason's' given behind this attempted recall? Have they actually looked for or cared about the real truth? No one likes tax increases or annexation. However, we are a growing city with needed changes. Necessary measures cannot be avoided regardless of who is mayor.

As a county resident, I want to thank all the city residents for paying for all the benefits that I enjoy within the city limits. Thank you. I'd like to just keep this arrangement and avoid being annexed so I don't have to share in the expenses. However, city growth brings 'growing pains' which we are experiencing now. Annexation and metro government will not just give me 'free garbage' but will ensure that our city will be able to afford necessary services
for 'all' the people and help our city run more efficiently.

Renee McIntosh

* * *

The letters appearing here in support of Ron Littlefield provide little or no evidence of wise leadership during his time as mayor. Rather, they are personal testimonials to his religious conviction, devotion as a father, personal strengths, and long time of being a good neighbor. When a mayor goes out to dinner, he should expect to be spoken to by his constituents; being courteous to other diners doesn't make him a good mayor. I am especially amused by those who comment from out of town since they have no voice in this matter. I would respect their opinions if they want to make donations to the city tax rolls in an amount equal to the average Chattanooga citizen's.

During his time as mayor, Littlefield has done little to control spending. The recent attempt to hurt the citizens of Chattanooga with an outrageous tax increase instead of making necessary cuts to keep taxes at their already confiscatory rates was the last straw. We expect a mayor to hunker down and do the hard work of fiscal responsibility rather than taking the easy way out through tax increases. I have to make my budget work, and so should the Chattanooga city government. The problem with government in general, not just in Chattanooga, is that too much is spent. It is not that too little is collected through taxes.

It doesn't really matter how nice Littlefield is or how long someone has known him. Jimmy Carter was nice, and he was and remains a failure too. Many Chattanoogans have "voter's remorse" over having elected Littlefield, and it's time for him to go. It doesn't matter what his pet projects are such as how much he loves animals or how badly he wants to provide for the homeless in our area. These are noble concerns, but they should be primarily handled through private charity and not foisted upon all citizens through taxes. Maybe the mayor would like to take up some of my pet projects like keeping bicyclists off the road in busy hours (especially in the dark), promoting a local program to check the identity of persons who might be in our country illegally, ending the speed camera program or hiring a city engineer that make traffic flow smoothly rather than causing it to stop light after light. Maybe the mayor should do more to promote driving laws and safety in our neighborhoods.

Littlefield appears more like a typical power-hungry politician as time goes by. Rather than accepting the will of the people if he is recalled, he has already said he'll lawyer up to keep his cushy job. If he's really such a great guy, once he's recalled he should bow his head and gracefully step aside to let someone else try to fix the problems he wouldn't without making hard cost-cutting decisions. The mayor works for us, and if we're tired of him, he needs to find another job.

Jim Nichols

* * *

Five years ago this month, my wife and I moved to Chattanooga after living for 14 years in the Los Angeles area on the heels of a national search for a home. After using a web-based search engine to narrow our field of choices to 4 (Chattanooga, Knoxville and Asheville in the immediate area), we visited each of the communities for 2 - 3 days to gain a first hand perspective. We toured each city with realtors, rode the buses, walked streets and talked with anyone we could about how they felt about where they lived as a place both for now and the future. Chattanooga became our choice based on its history of remaking itself, and a feeling, based on our discussions with everyone we met, that the future of the community looked promising, while not overlooking any of its problems.

The recent recall effort and a five year anniversary has us both re-examining our decision. The past five years have been a true blessing. This community has welcomed us with open arms, and we have embraced it. On balance, we are happy we took a chance on moving to an area where we knew no one and had no prior experience, and until recently, would have happily made the same choice.

It's simply not the case today. The short-sightedness of this recall, particularly on the heels of so many positives for our community due in large part to Ron Littlefield's efforts, comes across to those with national and international perspective as ungracious, petty, parochial and hubristic. If my wife and I were repeating our search, using the same criteria as before, we would not have moved here. After living through the California governor recall, we know no good comes from the effort, and only distracts people from the real work that needs to be done (just imagine if the same energy being wasted on recalling the mayor were used to say, create a positive outlet for kids caught up in gangs).

In fair disclosure, we are fortunate to call the Littlefields our friends. I truly believe my feelings about the recall would be no different if it weren't so. We chose Chattanooga, just like Alstom, Volkswagen and other recent companies because of the foresight and effort Ron and the leaders of this community vested before we came, because we could see a bright future to come, because we saw no trace of the anger and divisiveness common to cities like Birmingham and Memphis.

On a separate and related note, I'm also distressed by the lack of any journalistic investigation into those behind the recall. Reporting the "facts" of the given reasons for recalling Messrs. Littlefield, Rico and Benson as a part of the national tea party phenomenon is both lazy and mis-representative. There is always a hidden agenda in political attacks of this type, and it does the people considering the petition no service to have little public discussion or access to that agenda.

We are still committed to Chattanooga. It is our home, and we will work to make it better. But now we have to work on healing a divided community, rather than collaborate on solutions to common problems.

James Threadgill

* * *

These Chattanooga Tea Party people and recallers are no better than carpetbaggers. After the Civil War people rushed down South to take advantage of the economic collapse to make personal fortunes or gain political power for themselves. That is exactly what the recall leaders are doing. They feign concern and love for this city, but where is the proof? Recalling an elected official is not proof. They are using this situation of economic hardship and hard decisions by the city leaders to become modern day carpetbaggers. Their tactic for creating this crisis is lying at worst or deliberately misleading at best about the issues. They mail cards out to every woman registered voter. Why not the men? Why do gender selection in their mailings? What sexism is there in the Tea Party?

Their websites are full of partial truths or misleading quotes that benefit their position. The mayor has reached out to these individuals in order to discuss their grievances, but they refuse to meet. Now if they really wanted to change the mayor’s mind about an issue or really get laws or taxes changed, wouldn’t a normal person jump at the chance? I would. However, they refuse to talk. They refuse to work together with city officials to make Chattanooga better. They are only interested in satisfying their hatred for this administration and the mayor personally.

My only conclusion would be that they see this a way to boost their own prideful agenda. They see this recall effort as the best way to jump start their own personal political move at Chattanooga’s expense. They are using the city and its citizens. Why is the Chattanooga Times Free Press or any of the TV stations tracking down the trail of money going into these groups and from whom? Why is there no real reporting going on in Chattanooga anymore?

Take two issues for example that they use as reasons for recalling the mayor: the storm water fees and the city’s public art. The federal government is the one requiring compliance with money that needs to be collected. Therefore fees have to be changed, but they blame the mayor. It is the federal government’s responsibility, and Chattanooga is complying with these mandates.

The city’s public art is almost portrayed like a choice on whether to help feed starving babies or put in public art. There are many times that funds are designated and can only be used for a single purpose. Art many times falls into that category. People give money, grants are given or money is allocated only for public art which is meant to increase the cultural value of the city, but that money cannot be used for any other purpose. So even if they mayor or city council needed to use that money for some other purpose they cannot. That is not though how these are portrayed by these so called patriots.

I don’t think there is any hope that decency will strike the hearts of these recallers, but we can hope. I can tell you one thing; this recall has shown me the true character of people. I am much more impressed with the mayor’s character while he has been maligned and lied about than I am of these other individuals who allow or perpetuate this unchristian behavior. Maybe instead of meeting with the mayor and a couple of good pastors some of these people should meet with their own pastors. I think it is time for a little confessional. Ron Littlefield is still the best qualified man of integrity and know how to run Chattanooga until his term expires in 2012.

Johnny Franks

* * *

For various reasons, I won't be signing any re-call petition. My first reason, however, is I honestly feel that Mayor Littlefield is a decent and honorable man who doesn't deserve all the bashing, hateful and mean spirited assaults he's had to endure. My next reason, among many, is although the names openly attached to this drive aren't very recognizable, their actions seem quite remarkable and disturbingly familiar. Giving the impression the real culprits behind this re-call are hiding behind stage in the shadows.

These, or the ones behind this re-call petition drive, appear to be the same ones or of the same mindset who only a few short years ago wanted to: 1. Gather up all the homeless and dump them at the state line other parts unknown. 2. Who formed neighborhood groups then proceeded to attempt to run certain "undesirable" not considered of their social, economic and even racial class from certain neighborhoods and other parts of the city. 3. Who befriended certain police officers of the city, seducing with "chili suppers" and other "goodies," then used their profession and power as police officers to harass in an attempt to force individuals not considered of their social, class etc. standings from the neighborhood. Causing an already fragile relationship between the poor, minority poor, and especially African-American minority and poor, to deteriorate even more.

They've attacked any and everyone, me included, who even remotely disagreed with or tried to expose them for who they truly are. They are a vile and ruthless bunch without any scruples, values, character or honor. They will smile in your face now, if it will get your signature, then turn on you and stab you in your back. My conscious, my own sense of integrity and soul can't allow me to be a part of something I simply consider to be base, wicked and evil. There's no other way to describe it.

When I think of all this man, our mayor, has been put through, I'm reminded of that poem "Footprints." Where dude was walking along the beach with the Lord. Looking back over his life, it seemed at his most troubling times there were only one set of footprints in the sand. This concerned him, as he thought it was at those times that he felt God had abandoned him. When he asked why at his most troubling moments in life there were only one set of footprints, God explained he'd never abandoned dude and, "It was at those time...."I" carried you."

Those words, my belief and value system are the things that have always sustained me through my most troubling times and any attacks I've had to endure in life. I see those same qualities in our mayor, Mayor Ron Littlefield. Knowing there is something, someone, far greater than man looking out for all of us keeps me at peace. The naysayers can't stand grace and goodness---and that's why they attack so harshly. They know their only weapon is to try and destroy a person's character in the mind and eyes of others. And that's just evil.

Brenda Manghane~Washington

* * *

Mr. Threadgill, I feel sorry for you if you let a simple, legal and bloodless action such as a recall of the mayor lead you to think that Chattanooga was a poor choice for you to reside. I fear you may never find a haven that will suit you.

Look around you, there's not much wrong with Chattanooga. Good luck, Mr. Threadgill.

Jay Wilson