By Melissa Burnor
Blissfield’s John Tuckerman was once again elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as chair of the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners.
Tuckerman narrowly retained the chairmanship over commissioner Cletus Smith in a 5-4 secret ballot at the commission’s Jan. 4 organizational meeting.
Commissioner David Stimpson nominated Tuckerman and Commissioner Karol “KZ” Bolton seconded his motion. Commissioner Jack Branch nominated Commissioner Cletus Smith of the fourth district and Chris Wittenach seconded that motion.
Smith then moved to close the nominations in a motion that asked for the vote to be taken by a secret ballot.
Lenawee County Clerk Roxann Holloway counted the ballots cast and Tuckerman was elected 5-4. Holloway said Michigan law allows for county commissions to vote for the chairperson by secret ballot.
“It is the only vote they can take that way,” she said.
The Advance confirmed this exception to Open Meetings Act procedures with Robin Luce Herrman, attorney for the Michigan Press Association.
Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. For the complete story, please see the Jan. 9, 2013, edition of The Advance.