Chris Anderson

Nearly a dozen District 7 residents gathered at the Hamilton County Election Commission today to hand deliver a proposed petition to recall Councilman Chris Anderson.

The Election Commission would have to approve the wording of the petition before recall organizers could start collecting signatures.

Among the group of pastors and businesspeople was local activist Charlie Wysong, an outspoken opponent of the City Council's decision to extend benefits to domestic partners of city employees. He was also part of the petition effort that resulted in the domestic partners ordinance being placed on the ballot for a public vote later this year.

Wysong said he is not a resident of District 7. He said he is assisting with the recall effort.

A main reason residents cited for their desire to oust Anderson is the councilman's effort to push the domestic partner benefit changes.

"He doesn't represent what the people want. His only goal is to boost homosexuality," Mahmood Abdullah said.

Anderson said he is not surprised.

"I knew when I ran for public office that I would have to make decisions that were politically difficult. But I wasn't elected to make the easy decision. The people of District 7 elected me to make the right ones.

"If I am to be subject to a recall because I fought for the equal rights of the hard-working employees of the City of Chattanooga, so be it."

Read more in tomorrow's Times Free Press.