Attorney Who Defeated "The People" Is Running For Judge - And Response (3)

  • Tuesday, February 9, 2016

It was the summer of 2010. Our nation, as well as our community, was in a deep recession. Houses were being foreclosed on, wages were falling, people were losing jobs, and households all across our city were struggling. As if things were not bleak enough in the midst of the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, the mayor of Chattanooga proposed a 33 percent property tax increase. 

This was the final straw for three grassroots groups including the one I led, the Chattanooga Tea Party.
While few of us had any professional political credentials, we recognized when a gross injustice was about to be perpetrated on the citizens of Chattanooga. And so, a fluid but energetic campaign exploded across our city to recall a mayor who appeared to be out of touch and insensitive to the plight of the people. 

Through significant effort, and in spite of the heat of summer, our groups secured over 15,000 signatures from voters.  Their voices rose in unison to oppose the exorbitant tax increase by their mayor. Victory was sweet as the efforts of so many ordinary citizens to recall their mayor was validated by the Hamilton County Election Commission, affirming that the number of approved signatures had surpassed the 9,000 minimum threshold. 

Sadly though, the thrill of victory was short lived for the citizens of Chattanooga. In another example of the mayor's insensitivity to the people, a legal strategy was developed to foil the will of the voters.  While many may have forgotten the specifics of the players involved in that strategy, six years later it’s important to remind the citizens of our community of one of the key lawyers who chose to represent the mayor.

In the case of the Mayor vs the People, one of the lawyers leading the charge was Mr. Tom Greenholtz, the same Mr. Greenholtz who will appear on the Hamilton County March 1 ballot for Criminal Court judge. While Mr. Greenholtz may be a decent person individually, his professional choices and legal maneuverings in representing Chattanooga's mayor against the People are ones that the voters of our city and county should be reminded of and consider as they prepare to cast their vote. 

While for some this may be inconsequential, for others this may be an important factor as they head to the polls.  In my case, I am looking forward to casting a vote for Mr. Mike Little, a man for whom I have great respect.  Based on Mr. Little's experience and judicial philosophy I believe he is the best suited candidate for Criminal Court Judge.  I hope you’ll join me and many others in voting for Mr. Mike Little for Criminal Court Judge.
 
Mark West 

* * * 

I find Mark West's comments on the local judicial election puzzling.  Is his complaint that Judge Greenholtz represented the mayor too well or that he should not have represented the mayor at all? 

Whichever the case, the successful defense of the mayor disqualifies Greenholtz for the bench according to Mr. West.  That is is pretty convoluted reasoning as far as I am concerned.  The
successful outcome in this case simply reinforces the fact that the judge knows the law and is effective in applying it.  That sounds to be more an endorsement than a criticism. 

Leo Brown
Chattanooga 

* * * 

Referring to Mr. West’s attack of Judge Greenholtz’s representation of a past client - should we also then believe that as public defender, Mr. Little’s representation of accused violent criminals represents his personal views?  I think not.

The very basis of the American legal system is that both sides in a legal matter have highly qualified counsel so that the court can have the best information available for its decision. It is one of the things that makes our country great. 

Sarah Steffner
Chattanooga 

* * * 

I, too, will vote for Mike Little for Criminal Court judge over Tom Greenholtz. 

I applaud Mark West’s well-worded opinion piece: “Attorney Who Defeated ‘The People’ Is Running For Judge.”  And my opposition to Mr.Greenholtz is not because he was successful in representing the mayor against the people, but the way he did it. 

People need to know that at the heart of Greeenholtz’ argument was his contention that the voters did not enact a new City Charter in 2002. 

He argued that the 11,000 voters didn’t really know what they were doing. That is deceitful. First, how could anyone know that? And second, how could anyone stand in court and make that argument and not even blush? On the other hand, I find that Mike Little is a man who can be trusted. 

Charles Wysong
Chattanooga

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