The Hamilton County Commission met Wednesday morning. That's not exactly breaking news.
They did some stuff, like approving gas expenditures, and that's not exactly breaking news.
They heard from a couple of guys who, minus the tin foil hats, were convinced that the Convention and Visitors Bureau was somewhere between a doogleboon (seriously) and a willing contributor to Transnational Organized Crime. Man, who knew Bob Doak was Doak Corleone, huh?
It was, beyond adding a needed position to the technical squad of Sheriff Jim Hammond's department, rather yawn-worthy.
That said, several of the folks sitting before the crowd will be facing a very public verdict on their job performance today when the polls open. The Times Free Press wisely shies away from political commentary on Election Day, so those races will be covered extensively in Friday's paper and updated often at timesfreepress.com throughout today.
Here's hoping you have already voted or will do so today and that you had candidate information that ranges much deeper than R or D.
Good luck to every candidate today, because let's be really human here, putting your name on the ballot and opening yourself up to criticism and potential defeat in the most public of arenas takes some guts.
And that's all I can really say about the races.
So let's turn to someone who can chat about it.
"It's definitely bittersweet," said Hamilton County Commissioner Jim Fields, who was sworn in Sept. 1, 2010, as the District 2 commissioner. "I have a lot of great memories. Every meeting will be a proud moment."
Fields cited everything from school buildings to road work to more mundane tasks such as committee meetings and that collection of folks at the end of the commission meetings looking to blame everything from local groups to international corruption and Elvis' death on the traffic on the Ridge Cut.
There were discretionary accounts and mileage rates that became confused with a tax increase. There has been the worm-turning of anti-incumbent sentiment that became the catch phrase of "draining the swamp." There were rivers of ribbon cuttings, the plethora of political meetings and the overflow of overenthusiastic folks.
And Fields took all of it in stride - and may even miss some of it.
"I know it sounds mundane," he said Wednesday, "but it was a privilege to keep the wheels of local government moving. I loved serving, but it's time for someone else to serve."
Fields opted not to run for re-election, giving way to Chip Baker and Elizabeth Baker (no relation) to campaign for the District 2 seat.
As for Fields, well, the knowledge of a stress-free 24-36 hours was clear.
"You know I don't really talk to reporters," he told me Wednesday morning. "Maybe you've caught me in a weak moment or maybe I'm just a little sentimental (today).
"I've probably already talked to you more than I have any other reporter (in my time in office)."
That could be a personal compliment. Or maybe it's an indictment of my profession.
Either way, it's also a credit in some ways to Fields and his leadership style, in that he was not looking for fanfare, embracing the second word rather than the first of the job title of public servant.
Fields accepted well-wishes for the sentimental end of his time served; he will still serve until his replacement is sworn in. It can't be lost in this discussion that arguably the most frequent time references to the word "term" are durations in prison or public office. That can't be a coincidence considering the scrutiny and the backlash aimed at those willing to run for office and serve.
"I'm going to do a couple of cartwheels for sure," Fields said with a laugh when asked what he was planning for today. "Seriously, though, I will really miss working with everyone up here. It's a great team."
Who will be a part of that team moving forward will be decided today, and Fields has already cast his ballot on who he believes would best fill his shoes.
"Yes, I've already voted," he said, "and I will say this I voted for a Baker in District 2."
Spoken like a tight-lipped politician to the very end.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.