Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Martin took the oath of office this afternoon.
Martin, a Republican, defeated independent Joe Smith in a special election to represent District 3, which encompasses Hixson, Lakesite, Middle Valley and Big Ridge. He will serve the remaining two years of a term won by Marty Haynes in 2014. In August, voters elected Haynes to serve as the county assessor of property.
"I'm looking forward to serving the people of District 3 and looking to have an efficient, responsive government to the taxpayers," Martin said after the swearing-in ceremony.
Next week, Martin and his colleagues will consider his replacement on the county school board. Martin, two years into his term, resigned from the seat last week. Martin himself began his school board service as an appointee in 2012.
Today is the deadline to submit applications to the Hamilton County Commission for consideration for appointment to the District 3 school board seat.
Friends of Hixson and Hixson Kiwanis Club have announced plans to jointly host a candidate forum at Hixson Middle School on Monday evening, between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The event calls for allowing commissioners to interact with applicants, organizer David Queen said recently. Commissioners may use questions submitted by the audience in addition to their own, he said.
Commission Chairman Chester Bankston has urged commissioners to attend the meeting.
The commission will not conduct its own public interviews for the District 3 school board appointment, he said last week.