Former Glenorchy City Council alderman Stuart Slade has applied for a restraining order against Deputy Mayor Matt Stevenson, showing the council's legal dramas are not over despite an Integrity Commission report being handed down last month.
Mr Slade lodged proceedings in the Hobart Magistrate's Court on Monday after Alderman Stevenson created a website inviting members of the public to write to the RACT and request Mr Slade's resignation as a director on the RACT board.
It comes after findings were made against Mr Slade in an Integrity Commission report.
It is just the latest drama involving members of the Glenorchy City Council, after a damning Board of Inquiry report was released late last year, followed by the Integrity Commission report which was tabled in State Parliament in May.
Members of the Glenorchy City Council also challenged the Board of Inquiry through the Supreme Court in 2016.
Mr Slade's lawyer Caroline Graves, acting under instruction from solicitor and former Labor local government spokeswoman Madeleine Ogilvie, told the court Mr Slade had experienced mental anguish, fear and concern since discovering the website just over a week ago.
She said Alderman Stevenson was conducting a smear campaign and a witch hunt, and asked the court to order that the website be taken down.
Ms Graves said Mr Slade felt he could no longer go to work at the RACT and had missed a board meeting on Monday.
Mr Slade has been on the board of the RACT for 21 years.
Case for stalking might possible: magistrate
Alderman Stevenson's lawyer Fabian Brimfield argued the application for a restraining order was an abuse of process.
He said the kind of criticism levelled at Mr Slade by Alderman Stevenson should not be shielded by a restraining order.
"It's a matter of free speech," he told the court.
Magistrate Glenn Hay found there was insufficient evidence to grant an interim restraining order but said it was possible a case on the grounds of harassment or stalking could be fleshed out with further evidence at a later date.
Mr Stevenson said he felt vindicated by the magistrate's decision and that he intended to keep the website up.
Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston attended the court in personal support of Alderman Stevenson.
The matter will move into conciliation in August.
A spokesman for the RACT said it would be inappropriate to comment while the matter was before the court.
