Murfreesboro Post
MURFREESBORO WEATHER

RuCo Election attempts to hold private meeting, violate state law




Rutherford Countys Election Commission attempted to close its doors to the public Monday night and hold a portion of its monthly meeting in private. Chairman Tom Walker attempted to adjourn the committees meeting for five minutes and reconvene under lock and key to review the 91 resumes that have been received for the Rutherford County Elections Administrator job. It is the best thing to do for the privacy of the people who have applied for this position, the Republican Walker said at the beginning of the meeting. Democratic Commissioner John Taylor challenged this notion later in the meeting saying the names of candidates should be public knowledge. I think anything we do and have is public record, Taylor said. Walker argued some of the candidates have asked that their current employers not be contacted for references. After the meeting was adjourned, Walker asked everyone, except commission members, to leave the Election Commissions office on the Square. The Daily News Journals Doug Davis and Post Staff Writer Michelle Willard remained and confronted Walker on his request. Walker was informed it is against state law to close a public meeting. He was then offered a copy of the Sunshine Law (T.C.A. 8-44-101), which he declined, claiming he does not care what the law is and is just trying to protect the applicants by closing the meeting. State law says, the formation of public policy and decisions is public business and shall not be conducted in secret. Weve got some crazy laws in this country, Republican Commissioner Doris Jones said. Walker was indignant in defense of his point, saying he didnt think it was a violation of state laws to conduct public meetings in private. He said his concern was not protecting the rights of voters, but the privacy of the job applicants. Walker then asked Davis and Willard to leave again. When they refused, he appeared to call the Murfreesboro Police Department (who never showed). Post Publisher Mike Pirtle and DNJ Editor Jimmy Hart arrived on the scene with Pirtle informing Walker of the law and asking him to call county attorney Jim Cope for an opinion. Walker pulled out his cell phone and made a call, while walking to the back of the building. If we cant get this resolved tonight, then the meeting is adjourned, he said. He emerged several minutes later and said, Meeting adjourned, and stormed out the door without a backward glance. The commission will meet again in July to conduct interviews to fill the Elections Administrator post. Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

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