Loudon commission expected to vote Jan. 7 on trustee replacement

LOUDON — The Loudon County Commission is wasting little time filling the soon to be vacant office of retiring trustee George M. Miller.

The commission, allowed 120 days to appoint a replacement for Miller, who also is a former county mayor, is expected to hear nominations and vote Jan. 7 on an interim trustee.

Several county commissioners said this week they had been contacted by candidates interested in serving the remainder of Miller's term, which expires in 2014.

Miller, 71, was elected trustee in 2010. His resignation last week for medical reasons is effective Tuesday. He was Loudon County mayor from 1986 to 2006.

According to county attorney Robert Bowman, the law requires the position be advertised in a local paper of record at least seven days before the appointment is made.

An advertisement was placed in a local newspaper this week asking for qualified candidates, commission chairman Roy Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe said that the commission decided to place the advertisement as quickly as possible so that the decision could be made at the next regular commission meeting.

The commission's first action will be to declare the office vacant, he said.

Those who want to be considered for the job must have the sponsorship of at least one commissioner. Candidates may make their request for sponsorship from the floor, Bledsoe said.

Even if the entire commission is not present for the vote, the candidate that receives six or more votes will be selected, he said.

Commissioner Rosemary Quillen said she had heard from several potential candidates.

Bledsoe said he had heard from Sherri Colvard, Mike Cartwright and George M. "Chip" Miller II.

Miller, who is Miller's son, is a native of Greenback, a business owner and most recently a real estate consultant. Miller holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from East Tennessee State University and serves as chairman of the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce.

"Honesty and integrity" are the primary qualifications for the trustee's position, Miller said.

He said if appointed he would run for the position in the 2014 election.

Colvard lives in the Loudon County community of Piney. Colvard, who currently works as a staff accountant for Marriott Business Services in Louisville, ran for trustee in the 2010 election. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting with a minor in business administration from Pensacola Christian College.

"I am asking the county commissioners to appoint a person who is honest, hardworking, and has the most experience in performing the duties that are required for the office of trustee," she said.

Colvard said she also, if appointed, would run for the office in 2014.

Mike Cartwright is a native of Loudon, a member of the Loudon City Council and the Loudon Utilities Board. As a small business owner he was formerly president of the Loudon Merchants Association. He ran for the trustee's office in 2010, finishing third, about 400 votes behind Miller.

"I've been in public service for 25 years. Combined with my business experience, I'm best suited for the job," he said.

Cartwright graduated from Loudon High School in 1981 and attended Roane State and the University of Tennessee. He also served in the Tennessee National Guard from 1981 until 1993.