Interim Election Leader To Be Appointed Thursday

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The Cannon County Election Commission will appoint an interim Administrator of Elections when it meets Thursday at 5:30 p.m., at the Cannon County Election Commission Office.

The commissioners will continue Monday's recessed meeting, which resulted in the firing of Administrator of Elections Stan Dobson by a 3-2 vote. Jackie Gannon (D) made the motion to fire Dobson and Louise Mayo (R) seconded. Gannon, Mayo and Sue Patrick (D) voted in favor. Matt Studd (R) and Lindburgh Dennis (R) opposed.

Patrick said a "temporary" replacement will be named Thursday and will handle the responsibilities of the position until after the upcoming Aug. 2 election, less than one month away. Early voting begins July 13.

"The timing is not ideal," Patrick said. "Nothing has been decided but I would believe we would be looking at a temporary replacement until after this (upcoming) election. (Deputy administrator) Dorinda Mankin is handling the day-to-day responsibilities in the office. She's running the office at this time."

Former Administrator of Elections Mary Lynn Bush has been mentioned as a possible replacement in the interim. She confirmed Tuesday that she would be interested in the position if considered. Her experience as a certified administrator is a plus with the election on the horizon.

Studd said the timing of Dobson's firing shows "lack of maturity" on the behalf of those who voted in favor of his discharge from office.

"It is reckless and very self serving that they would take a political hit like this and put the citizen's votes of this county in jeapordy because they are placing the election with a temporary administrator," Studd said. "Thank goodness we have a very responsible deputy in (Mankin), but she will have her hands full."

"Unprofessional conduct" was the reason given for Dobson's firing, according to Patrick. The election commission had become "the laughing stock and joke of the county," according to Gannon.

Under the advice of his attorney, Dobson had little comment on the issue Tuesday. He did say he was caught off guard by the decision.

"It did surprise me," Dobson said. "I thought I did my job the way it should be done. I can't comment on anything more than that. My attorney has told me not to say anything more."

Studd said the Cannon County Election Commission was in compliance at the state level and scored very high in that area.

"Nashville rates all of the counties based on compliance," Studd said. "We have scored very high. We are one of several counties not written up or flagged for misconduct and that reflects well on (Dobson and Mankin)."

Studd said the firing was politically motivated and stemmed from Dobson and Studd asking the state election commission to remove Mayo as a republican representative because she was more aligned with the two democrats.

"I asked if any of the commissioners had any examples of misconduct by Stan Dobson and there were no comments," Studd said. "This was a preplanned event for some of them and they were all on the same page. This is the concern I wrote to the state commission about before. We don't have three republicans on the commission. We have three democrats. Everyone has the right to vote their conscience but the way you vote does cast light on which side of the fence you are on with regard to the issues. (Mayo) is more aligned with (democrats Gannon and Patrick than republicans Studd and Dennis). The motives were very clear."

Early voting begins July 13 and runs through July 28. Early voting dates are as follows: July 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and 27th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The three Saturdays are July 14, 21 and 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. The late day is June 26th from 4-7 p.m. Nursing home voting will be July 26 at 10 a.m.
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July 03, 2012 at 6:30pm
Sounds like a you were sit up Stan.Get you a good lawyer.But what else can you expect from Democrats.
[Delete]
July 03, 2012 at 8:00pm
Ugh
July 03, 2012 at 9:56pm
I would think Mr.Gannon is correct when he said
The election commission had become "the laughing stock and joke of the county," according to Gannon. I noticed he did not say Mr. Dobson.Interesting!
Jack
July 03, 2012 at 10:20pm
Another thought--I find it intersesting that
the commissioners have suggested only one person as an enterim and that being the Democrat that had the position before.
since "Dorinda Mankin is handling the day-to-day responsibilities in the office" she should be consitered for the interim Administrator.
Just a thought the more options the better.
[Delete]
July 04, 2012 at 7:13am
Mr. Dobson, A shame the way this has been handled.
Dorinda Mankin is very capable of "running the office at this time" and should be appointed as the temporary replacement.





[Delete]
July 04, 2012 at 1:10pm
MKeller ... The commissioners have not offered up any names for a replacement. Mrs. Bush's name had been mentioned after the meeting. When contacted by the Cannon Courier Tuesday she confirmed she would have interest if she were considered. It was not the election commissioners who offered up her name. In fact, the only name mentioned as a replacement by commissioners (Republican and Democrat) was Dorinda Mankin. This does not mean Mrs. Mankin will be named the replacement, nor does it mean Mrs. Bush will not. It may be neither; however, the story in no way indicated Democrats had offered up Mrs. Bush. That is an assumption on your part and not a factual comment. Just setting the record straight.
July 04, 2012 at 2:31pm
stinnett---I am sorry if I misread your story.
However you forgot to state who mentioned Mrs. Bush's name or to whom she expressed interest.
There is nothing in your story of anyone but Mrs. Bush having been mentioned.
[Delete]
July 04, 2012 at 2:40pm
Co-Editor Stinnett was asked to contact Mrs. Bush by me. I asked him to do so because she has experience as a Cannon County Administrator of Elections.
July 04, 2012 at 3:28pm
Kevin--Thanks for the clarification. That should have been included in the story. I was always thought the first rule in reporting was to tell who- what- when- where- and if possible why.
I simply did not understand what the story writer was wanting to say.
Jack
[Delete]
July 04, 2012 at 3:44pm
mkeller, it is impossible for the writer of an article to have all readers comprehend what is written the exact same way. Multiple studies have shown that people read what they want to read into a story.
July 04, 2012 at 5:05pm
The people who work in the election are not supposed to be Democrat or Republican they are supposed to be netural in their party affiliation.
July 04, 2012 at 9:36pm
Kevin-- I have apologized once for misreading the story, but I do so again. But all I can get from the story is the WHAT and part of the WHO NO when or where. here is what I read in the story. Copy & Paste

Former Administrator of Elections Mary Lynn Bush has been mentioned as a possible replacement in the interim. She confirmed Tuesday that she would be interested in the position if considered. Her experience as a certified administrator is a plus with the election on the horizon.
It looks like the story must have been ziging
while I was zaging or maybe the story zaged & I ziged .
I am not trying to pick a fight so answer this and you will have had the first & last word.
Jack
July 09, 2012 at 10:54am
This is all we need is another lawsuit for the county.

No examples of misconduct. I don't think this will stop the laughing at the Election Commission's benefit. This has left a lot of people scratching their heads with an election looming so close and early voting starting Friday.
July 09, 2012 at 11:29am
Agreed this was managed or poorly, if they wanted to remove Mr. Dobson, they should've waited until after the elections (all of them) unless it was found that he had undermined the integrity of the elections. This has not been shown to be the case. Now possible legal action could be taken, and makes the elections more chaotic than needs be.
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