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March 7, 2008
Maybe if it said "shalt" they would get it
Is the Hamilton County Commission required to appoint an interim Sheriff if one leaves office prematurely? It depends on what one's definition of the word "shall" is. As at least two writers point out in the Chattanoogan, the directive in state law seems awfully clear. It doesn't say that the Commission "may" or "could" or even "should" appoint an interim Sheriff. It says "shall."
District 8 Commissioner Curtis Adams is apparently spearheading the confusion over what shall, or what shan't, be done. Here's an idea. You'll recall that Commissioner Adams (along with Commissioner Bill Hullander) also led the folly that was posting the Ten Commandments at the county courthouse a few years back. As you may know, most of the commandments begin with the words "Thou shalt." And I don't find much chance that either Commissioner will deliberate the meaning of that phrase.
So if we can get state law changed so that it says "the Commission shalt appoint an interim Sheriff" -- even as grammatically poor as that would be -- perhaps we could get somewhere with this thing.
Government | By joe lance | 9:35 AM
