Anderson Recall has a Long Way to Go

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – On the Recall Chris Anderson Facebook page you’ll see a post from March 21st.

It reads in part, "We’re expecting to see some good results."

That’s in reference to a petition that’s been circulating for several weeks.

Some residents want Chris Anderson back on ballot.

Teresa Wood, a concerned citizen, says, "He was elected as an openly gay man, there’s no shock that he’s an openly gay man. That is not the agenda. His agenda is personal. He’s trying to push his personal agenda rather than represent the people in the district."

1,600 valid signatures are need to move forward with the recall effort, however only 444 have been given to the election commission so far.

Kerry Steelman, the Administrator of Elections, says, "And of that 444, 249 have been validated and approved."

Steelman says some signatures didn’t count because they were forged, some signatures weren’t dated, and some other people who signed the petition weren’t registered voters.

City Councilman Chris Anderson adds, "The leaders of the recall have proven they don’t mind breaking the rules or at least bending them by submitting forged signatures or whatever else they can think of to get this through, so I don’t doubt they’ll try harder in the remaining three weeks."

More than 1,300 valid signatures now have to be turned in by April 29th in order for the public to vote on the issue come August.

Steelman adds, "Since March 3rd, the numbers have haven’t changed, Really, we haven’t received any additional petitions in the office, but we’re expecting the group to submit petitions in the near future."

Recall organizer, Charlie Wysong, says yes, he’s concerned about the lack of signatures.

However, they’re working hard and hope to have every signature needed turned in by April 26th.

Originally, the recall organization hoped to get all the signatures needed by today.