On Monday the Shelby County Commission will make an interim appointment to fill the vacancy created by Republican Commissioner David Lillard’s appointment as Treasurer for the State of Tennessee.

As a Republican, Lillard won this seat in 2002 with 87% of the vote while the Democratic Party did not even bother to field a candidate in 2006. Why would the Commission appoint a Democrat to this seat when there has not even been a Democratic candidate presented to District 4 voters in seven years? Since the institution of partisan, county-wide elections in 1994, the voters in District 4 have elected a Republican in each and every instance.

Appointments to fill expired terms are the most delicate of responsibilities of any elected body, and when called upon to do so, above all else, defending the will of the voters must be the highest priority.

Honoring long-standing precedent, and without exception, every Republican-controlled county commission has filled vacancies created by Democrats with Democrats. Commissioner Sidney Chism was appointed by a Republican-controlled Commission to an unexpired term in the Tennessee State Senate. Commissioner Ford was appointed following the untimely passing of his brother, James Ford. Time after time, Republicans set aside partisanship in favor of the intent of the voters, integrity, and fairness.

According to reports, not only are Democratic commissioners planning to appoint a Democrat to a seat in a district where George Bush won with 69% of the vote, they intend to appoint the son of Shelby County Attorney Brian Kuhn. Mr Kuhn, an appointee of the Mayor, is responsible for signing every resolution adopted by the county commission. Nepotism and conflicts of interest have no place in County government. It is unconscionable that our Commissioners would consider such a blatant conflict of interest given the nature of the relationship between the County Commission and the County Attorneys office.

We call on every voter in District 4 to contact the County Commission and put them on notice that they elected a Republican to this seat and have every right to demand that their will be carried out.

In a representative government, when voters are removed from the process of selecting their representation, nothing can be of greater importance than for that small select group of elected officials to rise above partisanship and prejudices and make an appointment that most closely resembles the will of the voters. I remind the County Commission that eight out of ten will be making a decision for voters with whom they do not directly represent. The will of those voters must supersede any other consideration.

Bill Giannini, Chairman, Republican Party of Shelby County

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