By Ryan Lewis
Correspondent
JASPER, Tenn. — As Marion County commissioners work to select a new county mayor in the coming weeks, several of them took time to remember their fallen leader.
“We all miss David,” Commissioner Les Price said. “He was doing such a great job. I’ve never seen an outpouring of support like there was at the funeral home. He’s going to be sorely missed.”
Newly elected Mayor David Kirk died of complications after a horse-riding accident two weeks ago.
Commissioner Gene Hargis, who was thrust into the role of acting mayor after Kirk’s death, said he never imagined how much effort Kirk was putting into his new position after only two months on the job.
“From the week and a half I’ve been [in the county mayor’s office], I had no idea how hard David was working,” Hargis said. “I want everyone to know that. He was working hard, and he was doing a great job.”
Hargis said he was amazed when he discovered the initiatives Kirk had planned to implement for the county.
Officials said one of those ideas included refinancing the county’s existing bonds to save an estimated $1.2 million. On Monday, commissioners unanimously approved that move.
“Some of his ideas were things that I hadn’t even talked with him about yet,” Hargis said. “They just kind of blew me away. I’ve been thinking, ‘Why didn’t we ever think of that?'”
Commissioners are expected to appoint a new county mayor at a called meeting Dec. 20, but Hargis said he trusts that Kirk’s ideas will be implemented.
“He had a lot of great ideas,” he said. “I’m trying to keep that ball rolling until we get a new county mayor seated, and I would hope that person would continue on with these ideas.”
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.