Six candidates apply for South Ward
To begin the process of selecting a South Ward alderman to replace the late David White, the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously voted on how to proceed during its meeting Thursday, Sept. 11.
“It’s something we don’t do very often,” Town administrator David Smoak said of the appointment process. “With the passing of Alderman David White on Aug. 21, there remains a vacancy on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
“On Aug. 29, the staff reached out to the public by publishing in the farragutpress and on our website for individuals interested and qualified to serve in that capacity to turn in their applications,” Smoak said.
The Town received résumés from six candidates before the Wednesday, Sept. 10, deadline: Reed Honken, Joe LaCroix, Sean Murphy, Kimberlie Jo Parks, Brian Walker and Greg Wiberley.
Smoak explained the Town charter includes provisions for filling vacancies in Section 6-3-107(b)(1-2). “… By affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members, the Board shall fill a vacancy in the office of alderman for the unexpired term, but any portion of an unexpired four-year term for alderman or mayor that remains beyond the next municipal election shall be filled by the voters at that election, if the vacancy occurs at least 20 days before the latest time for filing nominating petitions for candidates in that election. (2) All such elections by the Board shall be made by voice vote, on the calling of the roll. If a tie vote occurs in filling a vacancy on the board, the presiding officer shall vote a second time to break the tie.”
“The voting process to appoint the next South Ward alderman is determined by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen,” Smoak said. “Staff has reviewed the provisions in Robert’s Rules of Order and consulted with several cities that had recent alderman or council appointments to provide options for the Board.”
Town attorney Tom Hale outlined two voting options for the Board’s Thursday, Sept. 25, meeting:
In Option 1, he explained each applicant would have three minutes to speak in alphabetical order by last name. Then the mayor would open the floor for nomination by Board members..
“Each elected official may nominate one person or concur with a nomination that has already been made,” Hale said. “Once the nominations are complete, the first nominee would be voted on by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
“If the vote on the first nominee is a tie, the mayor then casts a second vote to break the tie, either for or against the nominee.,” the attorney said. “If the nominee does not receive a majority of votes, the second nominee will be voted on in the same way as the first nominee, and so forth. Voting will continue until one applicant receives a majority vote (three votes).
“The successful applicant will be appointed as South Ward alderman until the next municipal election in August 2026,” Hale added.
In Option 2, he said, “each Board of Mayor and Aldermen member may nominate an applicant. Applicants not nominated will be eliminated from further consideration.
In the first round, “Each nominee shall be voted on by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen,” Hale said. “If the vote on a nominee is a tie, then the mayor casts a second vote to break the tie, either for or against the nominee.”
In second and subsequent rounds, “voting will continue until one applicant receives a majority vote (three votes).
“The successful applicant will be appointed as South Ward Alderman until the next municipal election in August 2026,” he added.
“I think the fundamental difference between the two options is that in the second option is contemplated that there would be a vote on every applicant that was nominated,” Hale said. “In the first option, the first nominee to get a majority vote would be appointed and there would be no further votes on any of the other nominees.
Parks, one of the applicants, questioned the process. “When the mayor already has influence on the process … the perception is clear,” she said. “The mayor can handpick a replacement … that is not what a democracy looks like.”
Hale responded that the mayor’s tie-breaking vote is set by the charter.
“Unless we change the charter — which I don’t think we can, since it was adopted by the Tennessee legislature — that’s the rule,” he said.
Alderman Alex Cain asked about past procedures. Smoak said the Board had used Option 1 at least twice before.
Vice Mayor Scott Meyer, Alderman Drew Burnette and Mayor Ron Williams all expressed support for Option 1.
“I’m fine with keeping Option 1,” Burnette said.
“I’m comfortable with Option 1,” Meyer added.
Cain, who initially favored a random draw, ultimately joined the unanimous vote for Option 1.
