Hamilton County commissioners today could end the standoff over who will be the new county mayor.
Commissioners are scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. for a vote, but it appeared over the weekend that Commissioner Jim Coppinger had five votes and his rival, Mike Carter, had bowed out.
Carter said Saturday he was releasing his supporters to “vote their conscience” and would resign today from his job as special assistant to current County Mayor Claude Ramsey.
On Friday, Commissioner Warren Mackey said he had switched his support from Carter to Coppinger. Mackey said he was put off by Carter’s statements alleging back-room deals in the mayoral replacement process.
If Coppinger gets at least five votes, he will become interim county mayor. The commission is required by April 9 to appoint someone to serve as mayor until the county election in 2012.
County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said Friday that, with snow in the forecast, the Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness Office was making plans to pick up commissioners so they could get to the meeting.