Does this mean it's safe to say Good Riddance to some dead wood commissioners?  

EDIT:  OH, CRAP!!!  The "MORANS"!!!  What a damned surprise. 

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Never has the left been so right.

These assholes really are desperate to stay in power aren't they?  Let's all pray for the state Supreme Court to reach down and issue a quick reversal on this one.

I've just skimmed the 60-page opinion so this is hardly a definitive take.  But like most opinions from Chancellor Weaver, it appears thorough and thoughtful.  And it pretty clearly explains that the county charter's preparation, adoption, filing, and administration were all deeply flawed enterprises.  The statutes are reasonably clear but those charged with creating the charter seem to have found a way (actually, multiple ways) not to follow them.  Reversal appears a toss-up at best, and if compelled to bet I'd bet against it.

It gives me zero joy to say any of this, as I'd like to see the voters' will respected and enforced and term limits imposed.  But it looks like, if you want term limits, you're going to have to start all over again.

 Is there some reason we should not sue the sitting commissioners and those of the recent past for fraud or dereliction of duty or some such?  If in fact the charter is invalid then was it not their responsibility?  Was it not incumbent on our elected representatives to insure that the county was in good legal standing?  Seems to me that it is time for some good old fashioned open revolt.

CAFKIA 

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It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

Well, in addition to CAFKIA's suggested lawsuit for dereliction of duty against current and former commissioners and county executives/mayors/potentates, I would suggest that we, as the citizenry who may or may not exist, follow up on some of the following items:

• Can we sue for refunds from "unauthorized" tax increases since the formation of the invalid charter? (Since, after all, any and every vote by the county commission since the charter was "enacted" must be considered "unauthorized.")
• Can we require any pay and/or pension increases voted upon by the county commissioners for themselves since the inception of the invalid charter be repaid back to the county's treasury?
• Can we go ahead and just start a unified government movement right now?

Congratulations to the idiots who filed this lawsuit. I hope it was worth it to you to keep your sticky little fingers firmly grasping the reins of your fiefdoms. Now, let's make sure the hold you have is brief at best.

Oh geez, when the spouse sees this I'll have to listen to at least a week of "I just can't live in this stupid place anymore - we're moving to the Pacific NW."

Seriously, how screwed is this?

 If the charter is invalid, then are all the ordinances, etc. passed under it also invalid?

was ousted by Paul Witt, Steve Mule, Jim Gray and gang for Helene Diane Lewis, the 1st district demos selected Lewis Logan and in fact Diane Jordan is still qualified to be on the ballot. The democrats jumped the gun by palcing it in their mouths and disrupting the 1st district democrats.

Man, Chairman Hornback looks brilliant in not jumping to any conclusion and not filing lawsuits to remove Jim Gray's boss from the ballot.

Chancellor Weaver has been dragging this out as long as he could. At an earlier hearing (that had zero to to with the issue), he veered off on a tangent and rambled that he doubted the charter was valid. This was a setup to keep the good ole boys in office, plain and simple.

Earlier this year the question was asked, "Who do you want to take the government back from?"

Now you know.

Lotta,

The zing was indeed aimed at the post just before yours. You're cool.

Take Care, Be Good and don't play in the street!

SteveMule

Well, in the cold light of morning I still don't feel any better about this. I am struck by the realization that the five who filed this lawsuit essentially made the argument that "We should be entitled to keep our job as commissioners specifically because we did not do our job as commissioners to ensure the proper compliance and registration of the county charter."

Yes, I'm looking at you, Billy Tindell. As a lifelong Democrat who resides in the 2nd district, you should note that you will not receive my vote any more. I doubt you care since you have already shown such complete disregard for the thoughts of your constituents, but I thought you should know. As for David Collins, I've never thought he needed two government paychecks anyway.

I'm voting for Mark Harmon (D) for the Collins seat and if the County Dems won't do the right thing about the Tindell situation then I'm voting for whoever the GOP has put up for that seat. And, I will be happy to canvass my neighborhood to encourage my neighbors to do the same.

Amy can get as many votes as stacey diamond got (12). SteveMule endorsed Diamond and got a whopping 12.