Quotes after the verdict:
Mayor Ron Littlefield:
“I’m just glad it’s over. Now, hopefully, the city can heal and move forward to become the best mid-sized city in America.”
On recalling council members: “Hopefully this will make it more difficult to recall council members.”
On the claim that he won on a technicality: “It’s a pretty important technicality. I’m surprised they didn’t research it as well as they could’ve. This is what the law requires.”
“This is the hardest campaign I’ve ever run and basically, it was a campaign.
It wears you down pretty quickly.”
On the comparison to King George: “Actually, I googled King George during the recess. I believe that it was the mad King George. I don’t believe I am as rich as he was.” (said with a laugh)
“I was surprised they left the incendiary language on the forms. The law is very precise about that. I just can’t believe they didn’t leave it off.”
“Prior to the time before the recall and during the 75 days of collecting the signatures, my office has been dark and depressing. It has affected my entire staff. Hopefully now things will begin to get much brighter.”
On attorney fees: “I don’t have any idea what my personal fees will be. I sat there in court watching the meter run.” Any guess? “No, I don’t want to give my attorneys any ideas.”
Mrs. Littlefield told me that at least seven different friends had independently given her the same Bible verses to help get her through the ordeal:
Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the Saints of the Lord and their vindication from me.”
I Samuel 8:7: “Listen to what the people are saying to you, they are not rejecting you as king, they are rejecting me.”
She even gave me the card they were written on.
Chris Brooks:
“We will keep on shining lights into dark corners.”
“We were defeated on a technicality – Judge Hollingsworth effectively shut down 10,000 voices.”
“The mayor went behind our backs.”
“This judgment does not follow within the spirit of democracy.”
Jim Folkner:
“We are very dissatisfied with the verdict. It effectively leaves 15,000 people without a voice.”
“The mayor won this on technicalities.”
On an appeal: “We’ll discuss it. MTAS said it wasn’t the case, the Election Commission agreed with that and until today the city attorney agreed with us. It is evidence that we got very bad advice from the Election Commission.”
Mark West:
“No options are off the table. This whole thing hinged on bad advice.”
“This verdict shows that something is not right in city hall.”