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McClure elected commissioners' chairman
Watford chosen vice chairman
By Seth Stratton
The Dispatch
Published: Monday, December 1, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 1, 2008 at 2:17 p.m.
The general election concluded a month ago, but the politicking continued when
the Davidson County Board of Commissioners met Monday morning to select its
chairman and vice chairman. When the votes were tallied, Commissioner Fred
McClure was elected chairman and Sam Watford vice chairman.
McClure, Larry Potts and Cathy Dunn, winners in last month’s election to
four-year seats on the board, took their oaths of office administered by
Davidson County Clerk of Court Brian Shipwash at the specially called meeting.
After taking their seats, County Attorney Robert Hedrick opened the floor for
chairman nominations.
Commissioner Billy Joe Kepley, the board’s vice chairman for the past year,
nominated Dunn for the top position on the board. Kepley said before 1990, it
was tradition for the top vote-getter in the election to automatically receive
the chairmanship. But when the top vote-getter was a newcomer that year, the
board decided to abandon that policy, Kepley said. Potts said the board
stopped doing that because the board’s elections became staggered.
Don Truell nominated fellow Thomasville-area commissioner Sam Watford for
the chairman, and Potts nominated McClure for the head post.
“We ought to close it before we all get nominated,” Potts joked.
Dunn received three votes, from herself, Kepley and Dr. Max Walser. McClure
received two votes, from himself and Potts. And Watford received two votes,
from himself and Truell. Hedrick asked whether the board would entertain a
motion to elect Dunn chairwoman since she received the most votes, but Potts
said the rules of the board stated that the chairman needed to receive four
votes, a majority, to be elected.
“My contention is the people in the county spoke, she’s the leading
vote-getter, and she ought to be the chairman,” Walser said.
But again, Dunn received just three votes. Hedrick suggested the board select
a temporary chairman until the next meeting, but commissioners decided to move
the election of the chairman and vice chairman to the end of the meeting after
presenting five- and 10-year milestone awards to county employees.
“This is my sixth year … I feel like it takes some time to get to what you
feel like you’re qualified to be the chairman,” Watford said. “I
feel like I’m just now being qualified to be chairman.”
“I’ve been here 16 years, and I’m still not qualified,” Kepley joked.
After a brief break the commissioners reconvened. Watford pulled his name
from the consideration list for chairman and instead nominated McClure.
And Kepley again nominated Dunn. McClure, with votes from himself, Truell,
Watford and Potts, seized the chairman position by one vote as Dunn’s votes
from herself, Kepley and Walser fell just short, 4-3.
Watford was nominated for vice chairman; McClure and Walser nominated
Kepley to keep his position. Watford beat out Kepley 4-3 by the exact same
vote as the chairman election.
The board will next meet starting at 7 p.m. Monday for its monthly public
hearing meeting on the fourth floor of the Davidson County Governmental
Center.
Employee recognition
County workers who reached a five- or 10-year milestone for their longevity
with the county were recognized for their work at the meeting Monday.
35 years: Ruth H. Huneycutt; Barbara W. Jones; Priscilla N. Loftin.
30 years: Patricia D. Wilson.
25 years: Stephen G. Hedrick; Sarah S. Koonts; Reginald F. Lookabill; John H.
Mendenhall Jr.; Charles W. Parnell; Debra J. Swaim.
20 years: Elizabeth B. Ange; Betty S. Daniel; Pamela F. Daniel; Debra M.
Delapp; Rebecca A. Dirienzo; Glenyce H. Fulton; Marie B. Hedrick; Kay N. Hunt;
Larry W. James; Sandra M. Miles; Cynthia J. Mobley; Frances P. Myers; Sheila
D. Reaves; Ricky L. Skeen; Ina C. Talley; Wanda H. Woods; Kimberly D. Young.
15 years: Roger D. Brammer; Laura O. Carroll; Darren N. Cecil; Susan A. Craig;
Roger Lee Crook Jr.; Lynette H. Davis; Mark A. Epley; Lucille K. Fletcher;
Angela C. Graham; Gregory C. Hennessee; Deborah A. Hines-Flake; Karen L.
Lanier; Petra D. Leonard; Robert M. Miller; Elizabeth A. Myers; Dennis R.
Rabon; Joan F. Reeves; Kathleen R. Replogle; Teresa B. Snider; Randall H.
Sowers; Catherine Spencer-Warren; Alma D. Thompson; Michael F. White.
10 years: Chad D. Childress; Ashley A. Collins; Kelly D. Daniel; James S.
Freeman; John E. Gillespie; Amy M. Jones; Lisa W. Matney; Angela B. Miller;
Angie G. Richardson; Linda L. Riner; Elma J. Roman-Hamilton; William C.
Searcy; Holland L. Shoaf; Samuel H. Simmerson; Ryan P. Swink; Jonna T.
Threadgill; Beverly W. Vernon; Vicki L. Watkins; Ronnie C. Weavil; Terry D.
Whitman; James D. Wood.
Five years: Anthony B. Ball; Melissa F. Bassett; Joan G. Boyd; Marcus J.
Cormack; Clayton S. Dagenhardt; Tammy L. Dewey; Amanda S. Everhart; Joseph A.
Ferguson; Willard E. Frazier Jr.; Tony R. Gordon; Lynn E. Griffith; Deborah J.
Harris; Charles E. Jones; Rhonda K. Kennedy; David B. Lord; Terry D.
McClamrock; William J. Meadows; Eric W. Morrow; Frank D. Mote; Rashard D.
Ricks; Matthew C. Riddle; Joseph M. Robbins; Sherri K. Robbins; Richard W.
Russo Jr.; Teresa P. Sechrest; Edna L. Snyder; John C. Thompson; Lori F.
Whitfield; Sandra Woods.
Seth Stratton can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 226, or seth.stratton@the-dispatch.com.
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