Athens fills vacated council seat

ATHENS, Tenn. — Athens City Council members on Wednesday voted 3-1 to appoint Shane Jackson to the vacant seat on the council.

Mr. Jackson, an assistant vice president with Citizens National Bank, replaces Shannon Alvey. She resigned in January after being re-elected to a second term in November.

Vice Mayor Bo Perkinson, also a banker, made the motion to appoint Mr. Jackson, who was among six candidates for the post. Mayor Hal Buttram and Councilwoman Ann Davis agreed.

“It gets down to studying the needs of the city,” Mr. Perkinson said. “What is best for the city of Athens?”

Ms. Davis said she labored over the decision, but agreed that Mr. Jackson was the best choice.

Councilman Dick Pelley voted no. He had wanted Harold Hunter, the former community development director and third-highest vote getter in the November race, to be appointed.

“It blows my mind how they could look at any of these six and not say Harold Hunter has the most experience,” Mr. Pelley said.

After the vote, though, Mr. Pelley welcomed Mr. Jackson, a former student of his at Tennessee Wesleyan College, to the council.

Mr. Jackson is a native of Chattanooga, but said his family moved to Athens when he was 5 years old. He said he is anxious to serve the city as a council member and has a great love for Athens.

He will serve until the next election in 2010, when he has the opportunity to campaign for a full term.