After a series of tie votes on a successor for highly regarded Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, the County Commission on Monday put its unanimous support for the job of mayor behind current Commissioner Jim Coppinger.
We look forward to what we believe will be steady leadership by new County Mayor Coppinger. He is slated to serve until the 2012 election.
Earlier votes had split the commissioners evenly between Coppinger and Mike Carter, special assistant to Ramsey. Ramsey is leaving to serve as chief of staff to Tennessee Gov.-elect Bill Haslam.
By all indications, both Coppinger and Carter are bright and competent, and either could perform well in the position of mayor. The commissioners’ support ultimately went to Coppinger. After repeated tie votes, their unanimous decision on Monday should bring a sense of stability and unity to county government.
Given his capable work on the commission, we have every confidence that Coppinger will do well as county mayor, too.