There's a new scenario about how the commission could break its 4-4 stalemate over who should succeed Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, and it may not involve a vote.
Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said he is asking the state attorney general for an expedited opinion on several questions about the selection.
They revolve around a scenario in which Chairman Fred Skillern would step down as chairman, making Vice Chairman Jim Coppinger the chairman. When Claude Ramsey leaves on Jan. 11, the chairman automatically becomes mayor.
The scenario would at least temporarily shut out Mike Carter, Ramsey's special assistant, who has four of the commission's eight votes.
However, commissioners would still have to name a permanent successor within 120 days of Ramsey's resignation, Taylor said.
Taylor's questions do not specifically mention the Coppinger scenario, but Skillern, who supports Coppinger, acknowledged that is a possibility, but would not say if he is considering it. Skillern said he is not interested in being mayor.
"I won't make that decision until after I see how the vote's going to go," Skillern said.
Taylor is also asking whether a permanent replacement would need four commission votes or five, and whether the district of the chairman-turned-temporary-mayor would need an interim replacement to represent that district during the selection process.
Carter confirmed he had heard of a plan to put Coppinger in the position, and said it goes further than that. He said people connected to the process told him that Mitch McClure, a volunteer chaplain with the sheriff's office, would be appointed to Coppinger's seat and that Skillern would resign and recommend the commission appoint school board member Rhonda Thurman in his place.
Skillern said he will not be resigning as county commissioner. Thurman laughed when told of the plan. McClure said it was the first he'd heard of it.
Carter said that, even though he believes the plan is in motion, he still remains a candidate for county mayor.
"They're going to have to - in front of God and the public and everyone - pull this off and, if they do, God help us," Carter said.