Hamilton County: Stalled again on mayor

Hamilton County commissioners will take one last shot Monday at breaking a deadlock over who should be the next county mayor.

But based on commissioners' statements, there is no evidence the vote will produce a different result from the 4-4 tie that has survived four rounds of balloting.

If the stalemate holds when they meet Monday, acting commission Chairman Jim Coppinger will become interim mayor. His rival for the job, Mike Carter, blasted Coppinger's supporters Wednesday for a "backdoor plan" to give Coppinger the seat without a vote.

Outgoing Mayor Claude Ramsey urged commissioners Wednesday to resolve the stalemate.

"One of the things companies investing money in this county want to see is stability," Ramsey said. "They want to know the county government is run well."

Staff photo by Jake Daniels/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Commissioner and mayoral candidate Jim Coppinger, left, speaks to the Commission while Chairman Fred Skillern listens. The Hamilton County Commissioners met to elect either Coppinger or Mike Carter into the position of mayor Wednesday morning.

Ramsey is joining the administration of Gov.-elect Bill Haslam. His resignation takes effect Tuesday.

The commission will meet Monday for a fifth vote on a replacement.

The candidates are Coppinger and Mike Carter, Ramsey's special assistant and a former Sessions Court judge.

"We're going to settle this thing Monday morning," said Commissioner Tim Boyd, who made the motion for the revote. Boyd would not say if he is willing to change his vote, and other commissioners predicted the same outcome.

CARTER OUTRAGED

Commissioners voted twice Wednesday and tied 4-4 each time. It's the same deadlock they've been stuck in since a failed Dec. 27 vote.

After the second tie vote Wednesday, Skillern resigned as chairman, making Coppinger acting chairman. Commissioners voted 6-3 for Larry Henry as vice chairman, Coppinger's seat before he became chairman.

Coppinger spoke at the end of the meeting about wanting to work with the county staff and move forward.

Carter left his seat in the commission chamber before the meeting ended and headed for the elevator. He said, "That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

Later he e-mailed a statement to the media, saying Skillern and other commissioners "successfully organized a backdoor plan" to give the job to Coppinger without a vote.

"I do not think that this is in the best interest of Hamilton County, and what happened today lacks credibility," Carter wrote. "I am proud of the four men who continue to support me and who would not be part of this type of backroom politics."

Coppinger noted Skillern earlier had said that because of illness in his family, he would not serve as chairman if that meant becoming mayor because of a failure to resolve the deadlock.

"I have no reason to believe there are any backroom deals going on on either side," Coppinger said. "I know these are honorable men, men of integrity and I think they would stay way above the fray on any backroom deals."

LEGAL QUESTIONS

Even if the commission deadlocks again and Coppinger becomes the mayor, County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said the commission is obligated to name a permanent interim mayor by April 9. That person would serve until the next county election in 2012.

Taylor has asked for an expedited state attorney general's opinion on the situation, saying it's unprecedented in the history of Tennessee.

"We haven't had any instances where this happened," Taylor said. "The statutes are specific in some areas and silent in other areas."

He wants to know whether the commission would need to appoint a "temporary commissioner" to the District 3 seat if Coppinger becomes interim mayor so his district will have representation.

Taylor also asked if the interim mayor could vote on the permanent replacement.

Carter has alleged commissioners would appoint Mitch McClure, a volunteer chaplain at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, to Coppinger's seat if they have the opportunity.

Warren Mackey was the only commissioner to vote against meeting Monday for another vote. He said later he'd rather vote at the commission's Jan. 13 meeting.

"I'm just as sick as I can be about this whole thing," Mackey said. "It's not good for Hamilton County. Right now, it's looking as if the commission can't handle its own business."

Staff writer Cliff Hightower contributed to this story.

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