Putnam County has a new County Commission member.
The commission has chosen Jimmy Neal to fill out the unexpired term of 9th District commissioner Daryl Blair. Blair resigned earlier this year to focus on being Cookeville’s new fire chief.
Neal is a Lieutenant with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and says serving the community is something he’s always wanted to do.
“It’s a duty to serve and I feel like Putnam County has been to my family and me,” Neal said. “It’s just part of something that’s embedded in your system that make you want to give back to your community.”
Neal was elected to the seat with 17 votes from the commission. John Allen was the other person who expressed interest in filling the seat, but he only received 1 vote from the commission Monday night.
The 9th District serves the Double Springs North and South area of the county. Neal’s appointment term will expire at the end of August 2018.