The normally smooth yearly transition to a new Vance County Board of Commissioners chair revealed a difference of opinion between members as to who should lead for the coming calendar year.
The chair of the county commission, unlike the mayor of Henderson, may cast votes on agenda items. He or she conducts the meetings of the board and acts as the chief executive for the county. The chair is also the county’s ranking member of his or her political party.
During yesterday evening’s meeting, Commissioner Deborah Brown nominated member Eddie Wright to chair the commission for 2010. The motion was seconded by member Tim Pegram. With no discussion before the vote, members voted three to three against Eddie Wright’s appointment as the board’s chair.
County Attorney Jonathan Care told the board that the tie vote meant that the motion failed.
The dissenting votes were cast by members Scott Hughes, Dan Brummitt, and Danny Wright. Member Terry Garrison was absent from the regular meeting.
In a second call for nominees, Hughes nominated Danny Wright for the position, citing Danny Wright’s recent announcement published in The Daily Dispatch that he would not seek re-election in 2010 by noting that Danny Wright “is in the last year of his last term”. The motion was seconded by Brown.
In the second vote on the matter of determining the commission’s chair, Eddie Wright cast the sole dissenting vote. Pegram did not cast a vote on the motion, stating, “I ain’t going to vote twice”.
A failure to vote is counted as an affirmative vote.
In accepting the commission chair, Danny Wright told outgoing chair Brummitt that “you represented us well”.
“I don’t have any hidden agendas,” Danny Wright went on to say in thanking the board for the opportunity to serve.
The board went on to re-elect Eddie Wright to the position of vice-chair.
In other yearly appointments, Kelly Grissom was re-elected to the office of county clerk, Jerry Ayscue to the position of county manager, Jonathan Care to county attorney, and Steven Stanton as finance officer.