WashCo Commission forced to deal with vacant District 5 seat
By Ellen Williams SA Reporter
Washington County Commission had to come up with an emergency administration for District 5, due to the recent court hearing where Willie Dixon, commissioner for that district, pleaded guilty to two counts of "using a public office for personal gain," class-B felonies. Felons cannot hold an office of public trust.

Judge Singleton said he talked with several people in Montgomery and was informed the county could do one of three things: 1. Have the commissioner of the adjacent district cover both districts; 2. Form a committee of the other four commissioners to handle the vacancy; or 3. Appoint the county engineer to the duty.

Singleton said Alabama law provides that the governor will appoint someone to fill out the term until the general election. However, because Commissioner Dixon was unopposed in the June 3 Primary, the Washington County Democratic Executive Committee (WCDEC) "owns" that slot and has legal authority to appoint someone to run in place of the former incumbent.

Singleton stated he has asked the governor to wait until the local Washington County Democratic Executive Committee goes through the prescribed procedure to nominate its candidate and will request that the governor appoint that candidate to the place temporarily until after the general election. By doing this, he hopes to spare the commission the double work of orienting a person who may be replaced in November and having to begin the orientation again. He said Thomas Fuller, WCDEC's chairman, told him it would take 30 to 45 days to complete their nomination procedure.

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