Mayor Ron Littlefield, in an Aug. 16 email, asked one of the recall leaders, Mark West, to meet with him, saying, "You are wrong, my brother, and this has to stop. Where do you wish to meet and when?"

He told the Tea Party leader, "You have raised the hate level in Chattanooga to 'red' and contributed to a very toxic situation among the population in this community."

The mayor said, "I believe you are in violation of the laws of God and man."

Mayor Littlefield said it had been suggested that two fellow church members of Mr. West - Sheriff Jim Hammond and County Clerk Bill Knowles - attend with him (West). The mayor said he would bring the Rev. Al Chapman, who heads the city human services department.

Mr. West had this reply on the same day:

"Mayor Littlefield:

"Thank you for your email and your offer to sit down to meet. I apologize for the delay in responding to you but I have just been swamped today.

"I am in the process of consulting with a couple of my key, personal counselors and as soon as I have been able to speak with them I'll be back in touch to suggest a time and place to meet, if that happens to be the proper approach. I am also making this a matter of prayer and seeking the Lord's direction and will in this matter."

The meeting never happened.

Those were all the emails released by the city.

Chattanoogan.com obtained the emails through an open records request with city government.

Mayor Littlefield said in his email:

"Mr. West,
"If we have ever met, I do not recall. Not to play on that word, but all that I know is that as this present "recall" issue unfolded, I frequently asked who was responsible and the answer was always "Mark West". Actually, the answer usually included the fact that you have a lot of money and that you are willing to finance conservative causes of your choosing. Friends active in the Republican Party tell me that you began to talk months ago about some sort of local recall campaign against local officials.

"I have also been told that your workers have told people that the intent is really 'intimidation' and not directed so much at the mayor. One worker told a friend of mine (who did not identify himself as a friend of mine - but no one asked) that 'If we can pick him (the Mayor) off, the others will be frightened into doing what we want.'

"I understand that both you and Charlie Wysong (who I have known for decades - but that's another story) have said that this is not 'personal'. Well, I do take it as a personal matter when your effort attempts to paint me as corrupt and then uses all sorts of twisted lies to support the allegation.

"My friends and my family have been hurt and offended. I have a thick political skin. I have regularly been attacked by the secular left, but I am a bit more sensitive when I am attacked by the Christian right.

"You cannot deny that you have intentionally supported such a smear campaign. Further, you have gone so far on your "Chattanooga Tea Party" website as to urge people to use their churches in circulating the recall petition.

"Suffice it to say that you have raised the hate level in Chattanooga to 'red' and contributed to a very toxic situation among the population in this community. As a Christian brother that you have never met, I believe that you are in violation of the laws of God and man. Your political tactics are unacceptable in both respects.

"It is important that we meet - and as soon as possible. Margaret Arant suggested a couple of Christian brothers from your church should also be present: Jim Hammond and Bill Knowles. I have known them both forever and they are certainly acceptable to me. In fact, I have already called Sheriff Hammond and he is willing to attend. I have a call in to Bill Knowles. If you wish someone else, that's fine and I'm sure that neither Jim nor Bill will mind. I will bring Al Chapman.

"You are wrong, my brother, and this has to stop. Where do you wish to meet and when?"

"Ron Littlefield"

The email exchange was initiated after Margaret Arant, president and CEO of Praying Friends of the Bridegroom, of Chattanooga, had a conversation with Mr. West about a meeting with the mayor.

Ms. Arant said in an email to Lanis Littlefield, wife of the mayor:

"I talked with mark a little while ago and this is what I understood from our conversation. He said that he had not been offended as a Christian by the Mayor and biblically that is why he (Mark) had not come to him (Ron). However, Mark disagrees with some of the Mayor's policies. During this recent time when there has been such a problem, he has wanted for himself and others to focus upon the policies on which they disagreed and not on the man. He hoped the Mayor was not offended as a person by what has transpired.

"In the precious telephone call with mark, I had asked if Mark and Ron could have the opportunity to talk. He had asked if that were my idea or yours and your husband's. I had told him you both were asking for such a meeting. Today we again discussed a meeting occurring. Mark asked to know the purpose of the meeting, what the Mayor wanted to accomplish, and who would be present.

"Mark said that Ron could email him if he wanted to do so.

"We pray for the Truth, Jesus Christ, to reign, for peace and unity among our brothers and for God to be glorified!

May God, both of these men and our city be blessed greatly in these coming days because they followed Jesus."