New statement released by Chickamauga mayor over removal hearing

4 hours ago

Lillian Yi,

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) – As legal proceedings continue surrounding the effort to remove Chickamauga Mayor James “Trey” Deck III from office, the mayor’s office has released a statement claiming there is evidence certain individuals considered the case before hearing his defense.

Mayor Deck addressed the situation during Friday’s meeting.

“I believe ‘We the People,’ and it doesn’t operate like that here.”

The City of Chickamauga attempted to hold a hearing Friday evening to discuss whether Mayor Deck should be removed from office.

The meeting was postponed due to a massive overflow crowd that exceeded building capacity.

Chickamauga resident Evelyn Garmany criticized the city’s planning.

“We have fire marshals, we have police in this city, and they know how many people can go in a building. If you knew that only 66 people could get in here, then you should have already changed the venue. It’s not right.”

On February 5, the mayor’s attorney, Jeremy Penland, filed a declaratory judgment action asking the court to find Section 2.18 of the Chickamauga city charter “unconstitutional.”

The filing also requests an injunction preventing the city from moving forward with a hearing before the court rules on the constitutional challenge.

“We’re asking for the court to find Section 2.18 of the Chickamauga City Charter unconstitutional. We’re asking the court to grant an injunction in the event that the City of Chickamauga wants to move forward with a hearing before the court rules on this declaratory judgment action.”

On February 6, the Chickamauga city government released a statement announcing a new hearing date scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at the Chickamauga Civic Center.

News 12 also spoke with Councilman Matthew Nave, who said he felt excluded from council discussions about the proceedings.

“Because I was thrown under the bus. I mean, I was the one who said in the last meeting we need to change the venue. I felt like because I made that motion at the last meeting, they didn’t want to have those conversations with me.”

Mayor Deck later released another statement claiming he obtained evidence suggesting city officials reviewed the case prematurely.

“This evidence provides, without a doubt, that the city manager, and at least one city council member, have considered the evidence without hearing the mayor’s defense to the charges weeks before this hearing was set.”

News 12 reached out to City Manager Michael Haney for comment and was provided an identical statement to one posted on the City of Chickamauga’s social media.

As proceedings continue to unfold, News 12 will provide updates as they become available.

You can view the full statements below.