Hamilton County commissioners might reconsider whether they want Chester Bankston to serve as the panel’s chairman for the second year in a row.
The commission on Sept. 7 elected Bankston in a 6-2 vote, but two of his supporters have indicated they would like to change their votes – Commissioner Greg Beck, who fell one vote shy of taking the vice chairman post that same day, and Commissioner Warren Mackey.
Commissioners Tim Boyd, Randy Fairbanks and Sabrena Smedley also voted for Bankston. Commissioner Joe Graham, nominated for chairman by Commissioner Jim Fields, received two votes.
“I’m going to take back my vote, but I don’t know who I will support for chairman yet,” Mackey said in a recent phone interview.
The reason for his turnaround? Bankston reneged on promises he previously made, Mackey said. He would not reveal the nature of the alleged promises, stating he did not want to share the details of a private conversation.
At the end of a recent commission meeting, Beck quizzed Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin Taylor about how to change his vote on the commission chairman and vice chairman election.
Except for zoning matters, the commission may reconsider any vote if a motion is made to do so by a member of the prevailing side, Taylor responded. Should such a motion pass, the commission could hold new elections for its chairman.
After the meeting, Beck declined to say why he asked Taylor about changing his vote.
“I’d rather not discuss it at this time,” Beck said.
Bankston denies rumors he promised to support Beck for vice chairman.
“I don’t discuss or debate matters coming up for a vote,” he said. “I don’t promise I’ll vote one way or another before any vote.”
As for the Hamilton County Commission’s vice chairman, it never elected a new one. Fairbanks, elected to the post a year ago, continues to hold the seat by default since the commission split 4-4 between him and Beck. Bankston, Boyd and Smedley voted with Fairbanks; Fields, Graham and Mackey voted with Beck.
Fairbanks and Smedley said they will not change their votes for Bankston.
“Chester won fair and square, so it’s not an issue for me,” Smedley said. “I’m not going to flip-flop.”
Boyd said he would not speculate on the possibility of a revote unless it actually comes up in a commission meeting.
“It will be interesting if it should happen,” Boyd said. “But, this is an odd commission.”
Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles, who has served in that position nearly 43 years, said reconsidering a chairman election is unprecedented with the body. One function of the clerk’s office is to attend and record every county commission meeting.
“I can say without hesitation that it has never happened,” Knowles said.
Graham has repeatedly voiced concerns over Bankston’s decision to not appoint anyone to temporarily fill the commission’s District 3 seat, left vacant by Marty Haynes when he assumed his role as the newly elected Hamilton County assessor of property on Sept. 1. District 3 voters will decide whether Republican Greg Martin or independent Joe Smith will fill the seat in a special election on the Nov. 8 ballot.
A ninth commissioner could help ensure the commission avoids tie votes on substantial issues, Graham has said.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow on Twitter @pleach_tfp.