The cracks in the Hamilton County Commission that Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said had been present from the outset of his dispute with County Attorney Rheubin Taylor became more evident Wednesday.
Despite numerous 11-0 votes against him last fall over the county attorney’s contract, the mayor had said he had more support on the commission than was evident.
Since 2022 rolled over to 2023, and the dispute over whether Wamp has the power to remove Taylor from his position gets closer to a court date, that support has gradually emerged.
On Wednesday, the commission, in budget amendments to correct actions it took relative to paying for legal fees in the dispute, reversed itself and voted 7-4 to not pay the fees for Taylor’s attorney. On Jan. 4, members had voted 6-4 to pay the fees. Commissioners Mike Chauncey, R-East Ridge, and Warren Mackey, D-Lake Vista, switched votes, and new Commissioner Ken Smith, R-Hixson, provided a seventh vote against the fees.
Commissioners Jeff Eversole, R-Ooltewah, Lee Helton, R-East Brainerd, Gene-o Shipley, R-Soddy-Daisy, and Chairman Chip Baker, R-Signal Mountain, voted against paying the attorney costs on both motions. Commissioners Greg Beck, D-North Brainerd, David Sharpe, D-Red Bank, Steve Highlander, R-Ooltewah, and Joe Graham, R-Lookout Valley, voted to pay them both times.