Hamilton County commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m. this morning to select a replacement for outgoing County Mayor Claude Ramsey.
Ramsey will leave Jan. 11 to join the administration of Gov.-elect Bill Haslam.
Commissioners will meet on the fourth floor of the County Courthouse at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. If county commissioners can decide on a replacement, the interim mayor will serve until the 2012 election.
There are nine candidates in the hunt, and Commissioner Jim Coppinger and special assistant to the mayor Mike Carter are considered the leading contenders.
County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said commissioners will be allowed to nominate candidates and votes will be taken by roll call. Because Coppinger is a candidate, he cannot vote for himself or on any other motion related to replacing Ramsey, meaning only eight commissioners can vote.
Commission Chairman Fred Skillern said that if there is a tie, the voting will continue “until somebody changes their vote.”
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