About a dozen people from Chris Anderson's Seventh District showed up at the Hamilton County Election Commission on Friday afternoon to deliver a petition asking that he be recalled. They said they hope their petition will be taken up and approved at the Election Commission's next meeting on Monday at 9 a.m.
Presenting the petition were: Alfred Johnson, pastor of Church of the First Born; Gil Shropshire, president of the Alton Park Neighborhood Association; M.
Abdullah, store owner in Alton Park; Teresa Wood, St Elmo resident; George Goss, East Lake resident along with 7-8 others from the Alton Park area.
One of those in the group said, "We have not been properly represented. Our interests have been set aside for matters Mr. Anderson considered more important."
They said "the district is concerned about gang violence, affordable housing, jobs not 'urban chickens' and the like."
Councilman Anderson was the main sponsor of an ordinance that passed 5-4 to grant city health benefits to domestic partners. A citizen group has successfully petitioned for a vote in August to overturn the ordinance.
Pastor Johnson said that certain campaign statements made by Mr. Anderson were "deceptive and calculated just to get himself elected."
Teresa Wood, longtime resident of St. Elmo, said that Mr. Anderson "has neglected to see to the community's infrastructure that would make the Seventh District competitive in attracting business and residents to the area."
Charles Wysong, who does not live in District 7 but said he is helping the group, said he understands the group will need about 1,800 signatures of valid District 7 residents on the petition. He said he was told it will have 75 days to get the names.
Here is the text of the petition:
CITIZENS' PETITION TO RECALL COUNCILMAN CHRIS ANDERSON
Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated ?2-5-151 and Chattanooga City Charter ?3.18 we the undersigned registered voters of the Seventh District of the City of Chattanooga state that we have not been properly represented by Councilman Chris Anderson and do wish to recall him.
If this Petition is determined to have the sufficient number of valid signatures, then the Board of Election Commissioners shall place the following question on the ballot at the next general election.
Shall Councilman Chris Anderson who represents the Seventh District of the City of Chattanooga be recalled?
For the removal of Chris Anderson as the councilman of the Seventh District of the City of Chattanooga
Against the removal of Chris Anderson as the councilman of the Seventh District of the City of Chattanooga
SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED VOTERS
(Must be a registered voter within the Seventh Council District of the City of Chattanooga)