By Ryan Lewis
Correspondent
JASPER, Tenn. — Marion County commissioners will appoint a county mayor at a called meeting Dec. 20.
The task follows the sudden death of Mayor David Kirk two weeks ago. Kirk, who was recovering in Chattanooga after falling from a horse, died of a blood clot Nov. 10.
“Traditionally, we don’t have a meeting in December, but under the circumstances we felt like we should,” Commissioner Les Price said.
Notice of the available position and the meeting will be posted in local newspapers for 10 days to satisfy statute requirements, officials said.
“Anyone eligible for the office can submit their name, but to be considered by the board, those individuals have to be nominated by a member of this body,” County Attorney Billy Gouger said.
Names can be submitted until Dec. 20, Gouger said.
“That’s the purpose of giving the notice of the meeting,” he said. “Any interested person is made aware of when that meeting will be held and can come [to it] to submit their name for consideration.”
To win the appointment, officials said, a candidate must get the majority of votes from the 14 commissioners. Acting Mayor Gene Hargis would vote only in the event of a tie.
“If you have 10 different individuals nominated, for example, all 10 names would be considered in the vote,” Gouger said. “Voting would have to continue until someone received eight votes.”
Officials said the requirements for the position would be the same as if someone were running for the office in an election.
“The law doesn’t provide for any criteria other than someone who would be eligible for election to the office,” Gouger said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.