Head Of Jackson Commissioners To Oversee County In Interim

The head of the Jackson County Commissioners will lead county government until a succession plan for County Mayor Bobby Kinnaird can be put in place.

According to Tennessee Annotated Code, “the chairperson of the county legislative body (or the chairperson pro tempore in circumstances where the county mayor had been the chairperson) serves in the interim.” (5-5-103).

Kinnaird died Thursday following a long battle with lung cancer. District One Commissioner Randy Heady leads the Commissioners.

Ben Rodgers is a County Government Consultant for the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service. Even though Kinnaird faced election in August, Rodgers said the county must fill the post for the next five months.

He said the commissioners can appoint an interim county mayor for Kinnaird while it accepts nominations to fill the post. A citizen must be nominated by a commissioner to fill the County Mayor position.

Rodgers said the commissioners must decide how the vote process might work. The board has 90 days to fill the role.

In the interim, Rodgers said Heady can sign checks, manage payroll and take care of the basic county functions.