Commissioner sworn in; Evans named chairman
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on May 5, 2004 2:11 PM
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners swore in a new member Tuesday and then picked its leadership for the remainder of this year.
After Jack Best took his oath as the District 6 commissioner, the board agreed unanimously to give Acting Chairman J.D. Evans the full-time chairmanship through December.
The commissioners then voted to make Atlas Price vice chairman. The vote broke along party lines with the Democrats -- Price, Evans, Best and John Bell -- in favor.
Republicans Arnold Flowers, Andy Anderson and Efton Sager had wanted Sager to get the board's second post. No Republican has held either job in recent history.
The board had not been scheduled to discuss its officers, which had been up in the air since Chairman Ken Gerrard resigned a month ago. Most seemed surprised when Anderson brought the matter up during the meeting.
Bell initially tried to table the election, but Anderson promised that he was going to surprise them with his nomination. He then proposed Evans, the vice chairman since December 2002, be given the chairmanship until the end of Gerrard's term in December. Evans had acted as chairman for a month.
"I'd like to say that J.D. has done a good job, and I just want to make it official," Anderson said.
The board voted 7-0 to confirm the appointment.
Bell then nominated Price for the vice chairman, and Anderson suggested Sager. The commissioners didn't debate the choice before voting.