What happens now that Greg Martin, who serves on Hamilton County's school board, has won a special election for the District 3 seat on the County Commission?
The Hamilton County Commission will choose someone to fulfill the remaining two years of Martin's school board term, but he has to officially leave the body first.
In a recent meeting, Commission Chairman Chester Bankston explained how it works.
"We cannot advertise it until the seat is empty," Bankston told his colleagues. "As soon as he resigns, we'll advertise it and take applications and then we'll interview them."
Martin, a Republican who defeated independent Joe Smith for the seat, will serve the remaining two years of a term won by Marty Haynes in 2014. Haynes resigned to take office in September as assessor of property.
"To me, this County Commission position is about expanded service," Martin said, citing his experience on the school board and the opportunity to address rezoning and public education concerns.
"I think having that experience on the school board will help me understand, to come into this with a little bit better understanding of how government bodies work," Martin said. "On the school board, we have a variety of different opinions and issues and personalities, so I'm kind of used to dealing with that - and that's just humanity. "
According to the Hamilton County Mayor's Office, Martin will be sworn in at the first commission meeting after the Hamilton County Election Commission certifies the Nov. 8 election results, which must occur by Nov. 28. That election commission meeting has not yet been set.
Martin said he is more interested in a profile than a particular person when it comes to considering who should replace him on the school board.
"Personally, I would want someone that is a lot like me, in the sense that it's a business-minded individual who bleeds black and gold for Hixson and our community," he said.
Martin said he wants someone who has a "a great appreciation for the value of public education," who will question matters and will not "just rubber-stamp things."
He will joins the commission before it considers whether the county will contract with a private company to build and staff a new jail.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow on Twitter @pleach_tfp.