News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County Commissioners will elect a new representative for district five at the January 18th meeting.
Six candidates have already made their interest known in replacing commissioner Terry Randolph. Randolph moved out of district five earlier this month. District five includes the Cookeville Community Center, Dry Valley, and Prescott South areas.
Commission Chair Mike Atwood said each person will be given three minutes to address the commission next month.
“Each person will have one vote,” Atwood said. “As they call your name, that vote will be registered. The person with the least amount of votes are eliminated just like all our elections are done. Until we have the election of one person who receives a majority votes.”
With 23 commissioners currently serving, 12 votes will be required to receive a majority.
County Mayor Randy Porter said Bruce Bailey, Tyna Bryan, Vinnie Faccinto, Junior Phipps, Johnnie Wheeler, and Bobby Williams have already expressed interest. A member of the commissioners will nominate candidates before next month’s vote.
Atwood said anyone interested in serving should contact the county mayor’s office. Representatives must live in district five, be 18 or older, and cannot be convicted of a felony.
“We have a month for those people to let us know and for those confirmations to be made known so we are presenting people who are qualified to represent district five,” Atwood said.
Commissioners gave Randolph a standing ovation Monday night. Randolph said it had been a pleasure to serve and encouraged the commissioners to continue their work.
In other business, Commissioners voted Grover Bennett to serve a new term on the Rail Trail Authority. Bennett’s term goes through 2024.
Commissioners also approved a move of all CARES Act funding to the county general fund. The county had spent money out of two separate account, capital projects and county general, and then reimbursed the money as it arrived. The state auditor wanted all the money in one place.
