When members of the Carter County Commission tied on a vote of 12-12 to elect the group’s chairman Monday night, Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey cast his tie-breaking vote for himself to retain the chairman’s position.
Just before the election of a chair and vice chair for the Commission came up on the agenda, Commissioner John Lewis made a motion to leave the chairman and vice chairman positions as they currently are as well as leaving all the standing committee appointments as they are. County Attorney Josh Hardin, after being asked to weigh in on if the motion violated the rules approved by the commission for the appointment process, said the Commission would have to vote to suspend the rules and it would take a two-thirds majority rather than a simple majority. Lewis’ motion failed on a vote of 9-15.
Commissioner Buford Peters stood and nominated fellow 1st District representative Commissioner Dr. Robert Acuff to serve as chairman. Lewis then nominated Humphrey for the post. After nominations ceased, both men were given the chance to address the Commission on their qualifications.
“I am a new comer to the Commission, but I hope my contributions point to the leadership I bring to the table,” Acuff said, citing his work on various committees as well as serving as chairman of the EMS Task Force. “I feel very capable of being impartial and exhibiting due diligence.”
In his address to the Commission, Humphrey touted his work as chairman over the past two years as well as the time he served as chairman during the previous Commission.
“I think I have met or exceeded the expectations here, if not, I would not be standing here today,” Humphrey said. “This is not about Humphrey, this is about serving the people.”
“I’ve tried to be impartial and I have tried to follow the rules. You can’t please everyone,” he added.
After Acuff and Humphrey address the Commission, the commissioners themselves were allowed to share their thoughts on the candidates and the appointment.
“This is not a referendum on the Mayor. I respect his position,” Commission Al Meehan said. “I’m speaking to the decorum that is held in this courtroom.”
Meehan cited both state law and guidance provided by the County Technical Assistance Service regarding the role of chairman of the County Commission, specifically in regards to recognizing members who wish to speak and recognizing motions when they are made. Meehan also pointed to guidelines and the Commission’s own rules of procedure which state if the chairman wishes to discuss a subject up for debate he or she must first relinquish the chair to the vice chair.
“Over the past two years it has been my observation there have been some problems with this,” Meehan said. “This is not a challenge to the Mayor, it’s a challenge to how he’s maintained decorum.”
While some criticized Humphrey’s performance as chairman, other commissioners praised his work.
“Mayor, you’ve done a good job,” Commissioner Charles VonCannon said. “You’ve kept your composure when others would have been out of shape. I think you deserve another two years.”
Commissioner John Lewis asked his colleagues to consider their vote carefully.
“We’ve got to be careful who we put in there,” Lewis said. “I’ve got nothing against Mr. Acuff, but I don’t think he’s the man for the job.”
While some commissioners questioned Humphrey’s motives as chairman, Commissioner Robert Carroll said some of his colleagues had their own agenda in trying to remove Humphrey as chairman.
“I know some of you. Your agenda is just to oppose (Humphrey),” Carroll said. “I think you’re making a big mistake taking him out. That’s his job.”
Commissioner L.C. Tester questioned the separation of powers by comparing the Mayor to the Executive Branch and the Commission as the Legislative Branch.
“I don’t think the Mayor should be in the legislation side,” Tester said.
Tester also called into question Humphrey’s influence on the Commission as its chairman.
“In a round about way you have pushed and pushed until you got your way,” Tester said.
When the matter was put to a vote it tied 12-12. Those voting for Acuff were Commissioners Willie Campbell, Peters, Acuff, Mike Hill, Meehan, Bradley Johnson, Isaiah Grindstaff, Tester, Danny Ward, Bobbie Gouge-Dietz, Sonja Culler and Kelly Collins. Those voting in favor of Humphrey were Commissioners Nancy Brown, Ronnie Trivett, VonCannon, Ross Garland, Timothy Holdren, Randall Jenkins, Lewis, Larry “Doc” Miller, Ray Lyons, Scott Simerly, Carroll and Cody McQueen.
As the presiding chairman of the Commission, Humphrey has the right to cast his vote in the event of a tie.
“The Chair votes Humphrey. Thank you,” Humphrey said in announcing his vote.
The Commission then moved on to selecting a vice chair.
Acuff nominated Johnson and VonCannon nominated Lyons . Simerly nominated Hill, but Hill declined the nomination.
In a vote of 13-11, Lyons was selected as Vice Chairman of the Commission.
When it came time to decide appointments to the Commission’s standing committees, Carroll made a motion to suspend the rules and leave the committee appointments as they stand. Hardin reminded the Commission it would take a two-thirds majority to suspend the rules. The motion failed on a vote of 8-16.
Most of the committee appointments remained the same except for changes in the county’s 1st District and 2nd District.
In the 1st District, Peters stated it was his desire to move from the Budget and Nominating Committees to the Highway, Education and Landfill Committees. Making that change would move Acuff to Peters spot on the Budget and Nominating Committees. Campbell stated he wanted to remain on the committees he currently serves on.
When the matter was put to a vote by the three members of the 1st District they all agreed with the new appointments.
In the 2nd District that was not the case.
Brown said it was her desire to stay on the Budget Committee while Meehan said he would like to change from the Rules & Bylaws Committee group to the Budget Committee. Hill said he would like to remain on the Highway Committee slate.
When the matter was voted on in by the 2nd District representatives, both Meehan and Hill voted to place Meehan on the Budget Committee. That move also placed Brown on the Rules & Bylaws Committee group.
Once all the districts voted on their committee positions, the full Commission was called on to confirm the appointments. Several commissioners spoke against Brown’s removal, but the measure passed on a vote of 16-8 which confirmed the committee changes.