Commissioner candidate Shannon Whitfield has asked state-level politicians to help change Walker County's form of government.
Whitfield, the Republican nominee for commissioner, said in a press release that the local representatives and senator should pass a resolution to put a binding referendum on the 2018 ballot. That referendum would ask people if they want to change Walker County's government from a sole commissioner structure to that of a board of commissioners.
If the item were on the 2018 ballot, and if it passed, the form of government would change in 2021. Voters would pick a board in 2020.
Whitfield's urging comes three weeks after 75 percent of voters said in a non-binding referendum that they wanted to change the form of government. That referendum on the May 24 ballot was supposed to serve as a measuring stick, showing politicians how voters felt.
"The vote was crystal clear," Whitfield said in the release. "The citizens of Walker County want a board of commissioners, and they are looking for Shannon Whitfield to be the last sole commissioner."
Supporters of the sole commissioner structure say it is a more efficient form of government, given that one person can make decisions without a board vote. Opponents say it puts too much power in one person's hands.
Whitfield won the Republican Party nomination on May 24, defeating Michael Peardon with 75 percent of the vote. In the general election in November, Whitfield will face incumbent Bebe Heiskell, who is running as an independent.
Heiskell did not return a call seeking comment Monday. But she told the Times Free Press after the May 24 primary that she supports a change in government - if that's what the voters want.
The next step in the process is to raise the issue again in a binding referendum. The local delegation of state representatives from Walker County have to put the item on a ballot, which could not happen until 2018 - unless local officials decide to hold a special election before then.
If a majority of the voters approve of the change on the binding referendum, the county would then make it official with a vote on various candidates in 2020.
Since the primary, state politicians have weighed in on what they think should happen next. State Rep. John Deffenbaugh, R-Lookout Mountain, said he wouldn't put the item on a ballot without the request of Walker County's commissioner.
State Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, told the Walker County Messenger the vote last month was strong, but it came with a low turnout: about 6,000 of 30,000 registered voters.
State Rep. Steve Tarvin, R-Chickamauga, said the voter turnout was not actually low compared to how many people normally participate in Walker County's primaries. He said he would soon begin studying other forms of county governments in Georgia, coming up with ideas about how the county can change.
Said Whitfield: "A 75 percent straw vote in favor of a board of commissioners sends a very clear directive to our local delegation. I very much look forward to working with Senator Mullis, and Representatives Tarvin and Deffenbaugh on this issue."
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LetsJett.