Mark West, leader of the Chattanooga Tea Party, denied Wednesday that the group is behind an effort to oust District 7 City Councilman from office.
He said, "Over the last several months, Councilman Chris Anderson has continued to repeat a false premise regarding a citizen led effort that has called for his removal from office. Anderson’s premise is that the Tea Party is behind such effort, despite the Tea Party’s previous insistence that it is in no way involved. Furthermore, citizens from within his own district who are involved in the recall have also denied the Tea Party involvement.
"However, just this week Anderson leveled a new set of charges which are all blatantly false, as follows:
Anderson claimed the Tea Party is “throwing everything they have at us” in an attempt to get enough names to force a vote on his recall.This claim is false. The Tea Party has exerted absolutely no effort in the recall and is in no way involved.
Anderson claimed the Tea Party sent a petition to every household in District 7. This claim is false. The Tea Party had absolutely no knowledge of or involvement in the mailing.
Anderson claimed the Tea Party used a robo call to urge support for the drive (recall). This claim is false. The Tea Party had absolutely no knowledge of or involvement in the robo call.
Anderson claimed the Tea Party is using bullying tactics. This claim is false. First, the Tea Party is a respected, professional and peaceful organization in Chattanooga and has never engaged in bullying tactics. Second, the Tea Party is not even associated or involved with the recall.
"Once again the Chattanooga Tea Party is informing the community that it is in no way involved in the effort to recall Councilman Chris Anderson. We would suggest that Mr. Anderson knows this based on the fact that in his recent lawsuit he chose specifically to file suit against an individual citizen and not our organization.
"The Chattanooga Tea is calling on Mr. Anderson to cease and desist from his continued falsehoods and slander of our organization."