Hamilton County Commissioner Richard Casavant asked County Attorney Rheubin Taylor if a potentially vacant seat had to be filled at Thursday morning’s commission agenda session.
The answer was no.
District 8 Commissioner Curtis Adams will be leaving his seat in May to take the city manager position in Crossville, Tenn. The last time a seat was vacant was when Commissioner Ben Miller died in office.
Mr. Taylor told Dr. Casavant that filling Mr. Miller’s seat was required by law at the time, but state law was modified in 2008. Public Chapter #871 stipulates that commissioners “do not have to act” because Mr. Adams’ last day of May 14 falls fewer than 120 days before county elections in August.
If the seat is not filled, District 8 will be without representation for about three months.
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Article: Adams could leave District 8 without representation
Article: Commissioner Adams to become Crossville, Tenn., city manager