McGinnis declines commission seat
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?It is with regret I must inform you I cannot accept my elected position in the Warren County Commission for the 2nd District,? wrote Marty McGinnis in a letter to the county executive and county commission. ?After qualifying for commissioner in my district, my position with the criminal investigative division of the highway patrol was transferred to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.?
McGinnis finished second in his district to be elected earlier this month along with incumbent Carl Bouldin. He finished ahead Tommy Davenport and Neal Smith who finished a close third and fourth.
McGinnis was to begin his freshman term of office Sept. 1. However McGinnis, who served much of his career as a deputy and investigator for the Warren County Sheriff?s Department, said taking the oath is something he will simply not be able to do.
?With the transfer came added job responsibilities and an incredible amount of out-of-town travel and long hours at night,? McGinnis said. ?It is my opinion I cannot adequately be available to the commission at this time in my life.?
With the announcement, election administrator Donna Yates said it will be up to the county commission to place a temporary commissioner until a special election can be held, a race which will probably be held in November along with the city, state and federal elections.
?We would probably try to hold the election in November since that?s our next scheduled election,? Yates said. ?We?ll put out a new qualifying deadline between now and then and when the election is held, the top vote-getter will win the office.?
As for the temporary replacement, the commission has historically listened to nominations by the other commissioner in the district as to who to appoint, which in this case is Carl Bouldin. They have also taken the next highest finisher in the race, which in this case is Tommy Davenport.
However, Yates noted Roy Pierce is retiring from his 2nd District seat and had not sought re-election this year. The commission could also ask him to remain in his seat two extra months until a new commissioner can be elected.