Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield recalled, mayoral election set for August 2012

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield was formally recalled Thursday when the Hamilton County Election Commission accepted a long-disputed recall petition and set a mayoral election for August 2012.

"This was a microcosm of open government here today," Jim Folkner, one of the original supporters of the recall movement, said. "I hope this encourages people to stand up, to tell their council people what kind of government they want. They don't have to wait for an election to go to the council."

A Tennessee Court of Appeals decision voided a lower court ruling that had invalidated the process, sending the matter back to the election commission.

In the first action, commissioners discussed waiting until the state court of appeals made a final ruling.

Republicans Ruth Braly and Tommy Crangle voted no, Democrats James Anderson and Jerry Summers voted yes and the chairman, Republican Mike Walden, voted no, breaking the tie, and allowing the commission to move forward.

In the second vote placing the election on the August ballot, Summers voted no, Anderson abstained and the three Republicans voted yes.

Attorney Hal North, representing Littlefield, said the commission acted prematurely because the mayor has a petition in appeals court. North said there is a 60 day waiting period before an appeals decision becomes final.

People interested in running for mayor can pick up qualifying papers starting Jan. 6, 2012. The deadline to return them will be April 5 by noon.

Update: With talk of legal action on multiple fronts, the City Council now must decide when and how Mayor Ron Littlefield is removed as mayor.

Updated @ 7:40 a.m. on 11/18/11 to correct Tennessee Supreme Court of Appeals to Tennessee Court of Appeals.