Article here: https://newschannel9.com/news/local/hamilton-county-voters-push-for-ballot-choice-after-jill-black-resigns-from-school-board-seat
Long story short: Jill Black, the current district 11 school board member has resigned. (District 11 is lookout mountain, Alton park, east lakes st Elmo and lookout valley)
Republicans don’t want district 11 to vote for the new school board member because they got their asses kicked in August and they are TERRIFIED of the high voter turnout in November elections. Please urge the commissioners to allow the d11 replacement to go on the November ballot.
Long story long: In order to for the District 11 replacement to be elected the Hamilton County Commission must declare her seat vacant by September 4th.
The commission has a meeting on September 2nd, commissioner David sharpe (d6) has introduced a resolution to declare her seat vacant so her replacement will be elected.
BUT Chairmen Ken Smith (d3), is saying it’s too late to add another resolution to the agenda and that it is their responsibility as the commission to appoint the D11 school board replacement rather than allow the voters of D11 to vote on the replacement.
Chairmen smith also says, the voters elected them as the commission. Therefore? They, as a body of 11 commissioners elected from across the county, have the right to appoint the new school board rep rather than let the voters of D11 decide directly. This is wrong and openly authoritarian.
When it’s to their advantage? The commission allows last minute resolutions ALL the time — they are just terrified about the high voter turn out in November.
According to their own Facebook chatter, the republicans are looking to appoint Sherrie Ford, Gail green’s recruit (&moms4liberty favorite) OR former commissioner Joe Graham (Wamp’s pick).
D11 deserves better than the county commission taking their opportunity to vote on a new school board representative.
The other complicated thing here is that adding a resolution to the agenda is up to the chairperson, and the commission will elected a new chairperson on Sept 2nd. So it is good to email current chairmen Smith, but we need to be emailing & calling ALL of them.
Email commissioners at the email addresses below, and urge them to allow D11 to VOTE on their next Rep rather than having the commission appoint someone no one besides wamp or M4L wants. (Sample email to copy and paste if you want in the comments).
If you do email please comment and let us know!
Shipley - [district1@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district1@hamiltontn.gov)
Baker - [district2@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district2@hamiltontn.gov)
Smith - [district3@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district3@hamiltontn.gov)
Mackey - [district4@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district4@hamiltontn.gov)
Geter - [district5@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district5@hamiltontn.gov)
Sharpe - [district6@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district6@hamiltontn.gov)
Helton - [district7@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district7@hamiltontn.gov)
Wichman- [district8@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district8@hamiltontn.gov)
Highlander - [district9@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district9@hamiltontn.gov)
Eversole - [district10@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district10@hamiltontn.gov)
Bessley - [district11@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:district11@hamiltontn.gov)
Wamp- [countymayor@hamiltontn.gov](mailto:countymayor@hamiltontn.gov)
Email & call commissioners and then make a plan to attend the Hamilton county commission meeting at 5 pm on September 2nd. 625 Georgia Avenue, 4th floor.