A hearing is expected next week on the lawsuit filed by City Councilman Peter Murphy on Thursday afternoon contesting the Election Commission's certification of former Councilman Yusuf Hakeem as the winner in their close District 9 contest.
Chancellor Frank Brown said he did not have any time on his schedule on Friday, but he said he had given attorneys four different possible dates for next week.
The eight-page complaint was filed by Chattanooga attorney Neal Thompson. A Washington, D.C., attorney, Elizabeth Howard, of "of counsel" on the case.
It seeks a court ruling that a runoff election in District 9 be held on April 9.
Early voting has already started for a District 4 runoff on April 9 between Jack Benson and Larry Grohn in District 4.
The suit is filed against the Election Commission, commission members and Charlotte Mullis-Morgan, election administrator.
Other plaintiffs are District 9 residents Jessie Phillips, Lettie McIntire and Olin Ivey.
Mr. Hakeem got six more votes than the incumbent in the March 5 election. Mr. Hakeem got 49.8 percent of the vote when seven write-in ballots were counted. A majority on the Election Commission discounted two write-in votes that had no name on them, pushing Mr. Hakeem above the 50 percent mark.
The suit says that according to the certified results the write-in ballots were included and no candidate got a majority, thus requiring a runoff.
It asks for a writ of mandamus directing the Election Commission to hold a District 9 runoff on April 9.
Click here for the full complaint.
More to follow. . .