JeffCo Commissioner Tyson Expresses Disapproval Following Appointment of Two Republicans to Board of Equalization
Birmingham, AL – A meeting at the Jefferson County Commission ended on a sour note Wednesday, following the appointment of two more Republicans to the Board of Equalization, much to the chagrin of Commissioner Sheila Tyson.
Commissioner Tyson left the chamber in dismay, venting out her frustration over her nominee’s failure to secure a position on the board. She accused her counterpart commissioners of following partisan lines rather than merit in their appointments.
A String of Unsuccessful Nominations
During the session, Commissioner Joe Knight put forward Jef Freeman’s name for the role of chairman, but his nomination fell through due to lack of support. Commissioner Mike Bolin proposed Norman Pless Jr., who secured unanimous approval. Following this, Tyson’s pick, Tyrone Long, and Freeman were up for consideration for the vacant spot of an associate board member for Place 5. However, her nomination garnered no seconding motion, causing Tyson to voice out her disappointment.
“Whether we want to admit it or not, we sit up here as Republicans and Democrats and it’s only one Democrat on there,” Tyson said. “The rest of them are Republicans. How is it fair to turn around and appoint two more? It is what it is.”
She further voiced out her displeasure when the Freeman nomination was revisited. Freeman was successfully nominated, with Tyson being the lone opposition in a 3-1 vote. Commissioner LaShunda Scales was absent for the proceedings.
_Claims of Partisanship and Lip Service_
Reacting to the situation, Tyson communicated her conviction that the outcomes had been predetermined.
“The fix was in when we got in here. When you called the meeting, you already knew what you were gonna do”, Tyson said.
She was quick to express her disillusionment with the commission’s functioning, suggesting that the party lines had influenced the decision in Jefferson County Commission.
Rebuttals and Promises
Following the controversy, Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens addressed Tyson’s complaints. He refuted Tyson’s partisan accusation, stating the deciding factors were more about timing and proper vetting process.
“The difficulty that we have with Commissioner Tyson’s candidate is we didn’t receive it until this morning and we didn’t have a chance to do our proper vetting,” Stephens said.
Stephens clarified further that the commission did not consider party affiliation during appointments. He stated that the issue was not about partisanship but the timely submission of nomination and its proper vetting.
Disputing Tyson’s allegations of partisanship again, the Commission President emphasized there was nothing partisan about the appointment process, and it was purely down to the timing of the presentation. As for the candidate proposed by Tyson, Stephens showed a positive attitude, stating that once the commission had time to do the proper research, they could consider them for the next opening.
Future Uncertainties
This incident has raised pressing questions about the commission’s future proceedings and the credibility of its decision-making processes. How this will affect forthcoming appointments and the commission’s general operations remain to be seen. The incident suggests a need for increased transparency and a more comprehensive consideration of all nominations to ensure fair representation.
