Mayor Ron Littlefield and Chattanooga Tea Party president exchange e-mails on recall effort

PDF: E-mail exchange

A series of e-mails between Mayor Ron Littlefield and Mark West, president of the Chattanooga Tea Party, which is trying to recall Littlefield, shows a difference in opinion on Christian principles and whether the recall effort is a personal attack.

"I have regularly been attacked by the secular left, but I am a bit more sensitive when I am attacked by the Christian right," Littlefield wrote in an e-mail to West. "You cannot deny that you have intentionally supported such a smear campaign."

The e-mail exchanges were released to the Chattanooga Times Free Press Tuesday morning after filing an open records request.

The exchanges happened two weeks ago after an attempt by a third individual to arrange a meeting between Littlefield and West, the e-mails show.

In his reply to Littlefield's e-mail, West said he would be back in touch with the mayor to suggest a time and place.

"I am also making this a matter of prayer and seeking the Lord's direction and will in this matter," West wrote.

West has said a meeting never took place.

Littlefield blasted the recall campaign in his response to the e-mail about the proposed meeting, saying West personally attacked him. He also said that West made it known in Republican circles that he planned on an "intimidation" campaign.

West has helped raise the hate level in Chattanooga to "red," Littlefield wrote in the e-mails.

"I believe that you are in violation of the laws of God and man," Littlefield wrote. "Your political tactics are unacceptable."

For more information, read tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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