Four of Hamilton County's remaining eight commissioners favor filling the District 8 seat left temporarily vacant by the departure of Commissioner Curtis Adams.
The four other commissioners aren't outright opposed to the idea.
Chairman Fred Skillern said if the commission chooses to fill the seat, the job would be advertised.
He said last week that the commission would discuss the vacancy at its next meeting. He declined Monday to discuss his feelings on the subject.
"I'm going to ask for everybody's opinion," Mr. Skillern said. "I'll give mine last. The chairman votes last and he'll be involved last."
Mr. Adams left his post on May 13 to take the job as city manager in Crossville, Tenn.
The general county election is on Aug. 5, but a new commissioner wouldn't be sworn in until Sept. 1, leaving almost four months without a District 8 commissioner.
The law says the commission should fill the seat "as soon as possible," County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said, but it might not be practical to appoint someone for such a short amount of time. He said the commission could not fill the seat without giving each commissioner 10 days notice and giving seven days notice to the public.
"If they don't put someone in there, someone might come up and say, 'I've been hurt by the fact that I don't have a representative,'" Mr. Taylor said.
Commissioners Warren Mackey and Larry Henry said the upcoming approval of the budget would be the main reason for filling the seat, ensuring that District 8 voters have a say in the budget process.
Commissioner John Allen Brooks said he could not answer whether he would support a temporary replacement.
Commissioner Bill Hullander said he would like to know if the commission has the option of swearing in whoever is elected in the county general election a month early.
"Since the election is so close, I kind of tend to just go ahead and let this wait," Mr. Hullander said.
Commissioner Richard Casavant said it "wouldn't hurt" to appoint someone, but said he's fine with whatever the commission decides.
"There's a need," he said. "How pressing is another question."
Tim Boyd, who's running in the general election as a Republican for the District 8 seat against Democrat Kenny Smith and independents Jim Winters and Terry Turner, said the commission shouldn't appoint a new member. Commissioners have said they would not appoint current candidates to the post.
Mr. Smith said the seat should be filled. Mr. Winters said he is "curious" on how the commission would chose a replacement. Mr. Turner said he does not have a problem with filling the seat as long as commissioners select someone who is competent.
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