Lutz files court papers to stop recall effort

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioner Craig Lutz has filed court papers asking that a judge make a decision on whether a group of citizens has sufficient grounds to mount a recall effort against him.

The group has said that Lutz violated the Open Meetings Act when he and two other commissioners discussed county personnel issues.

"The discussions we had occurred before I even came into office...before January 1," said Lutz. "So, I wouldn't have been subjected to an Open Meetings Law."

Lutz said he is unsure when a judge may rule on his request, and he said he hopes a judge from outside of the county will make the ruling.

"As a county commissioner, I do have 20 percent input in the budget and stuff like that, and I want to make sure that everything is fair, above board and transparent," said Lutz.