Joe SmithThe Hamilton County Commission voted to name Joe Smith to the Hamilton County Board of Education, representing District 3.
Smith will fill Greg Martin's post on the board, as Martin was elected to the commission earlier this month. Smith, long-serving YMCA regional director, also ran for the commission seat and lost to Martin.
Smith will serve out the two remaining years of Martin's term on the school board. And Martin, in turn, will serve the remaining two years of a term won by Marty Haynes, who resigned from the seat to serve as the county's newly-elected assessor of property.
The commission was split voting between Smith and Michael Kirk, director of school operations at Boyd-Buchanan.
Commissioners Tim Boyd, Randy Fairbanks, Warren Mackey, Sabrena Smedley and Chester Bankston voted in favor of Smith.
Martin voted for Kirk, and encouraged other members of the board too as well.
District 3 represents Hixson, Lakesite, Middle Valley and Big Ridge.
James Watson, a teacher, who previously ran against Martin for the seat submitted an application for the post.
Longtime sports broadcaster Randy Smith, caregiver and former teacher Ann Morgan and financial management business owner Bradley D. Church also seek the post.
See tomorrow's Times Free Press for the full story.