Janie Varnell will be Hamilton County’s next attorney. A Wednesday vote by the County Commission means that starting July 1, she’ll take on a role held for over 30 years by Rheubin Taylor.
A crowd of Varnell’s supporters watched the vote to confirm her from the commission room and walked out with her afterwards to offer congratulations.
Varnell, previously a private practice attorney who has worked extensively on legal cases concerning police, has for months served as a special adviser to the county mayor and commission. The adviser role was intended to ease her into the role of county attorney. Her salary in her new role will be $191,390 annually. Taylor’s salary is $191,389.
County Mayor Weston Wamp in December named Varnell as his pick to succeed Taylor, with whom Wamp has clashed frequently in his almost three years as mayor. Taylor has been county attorney since 1993, and he served in county government for years before taking on that role.
Taylor overcame an attempt by Wamp to fire him shortly after Wamp became the county’s top executive, but Taylor won a judgment that said his work contract protected him.