JOHN COFFELTContributor

Following an executive session during the May 13 Coffee County Commission meeting, the legislative body voted to task the county attorney to begin the investigative process for the ouster of County Commissioner Joseph Hodge for official misconduct.

This is Hodge’s first term on the Coffee County Commission, as he won the District 4 seat, alongside Tim Brown, in August 2022.

Hodge declined to comment on the matter at this time, and other commissioners have cited attorney-client confidentiality issues.

The commissioners and Coffee County Mayor Dennis Hunt recessed for an executive session with Coffee County Attorney Mark Williams towards the end of a nearly three hour commission meeting. The executive session lasted nearly 40 minutes before the commission and Hunt returned. The press was not allowed in the executive session.

After hearing reports from the standing committees, County Commissioner Terry Hershman made the motion to begin the ouster proceedings. After receiving the second, Hunt clarified that the motion made was to direct the county attorney to begin ouster proceedings against Hodge.

Before proceeding further, Williams advised the board that the body could not oust Hodge presently, but they could have him (the county attorney) investigate the matter further to see if there is evidence of alleged misconduct.

Hershman adjusted his motion to add the item to let the county attorney to investigate the ouster procedure for Hodge. The motion pasted with a show of hands with 13-yes votes.

With the item added, Hershman then made his motion for the county attorney to investigate the ousting procedure for Hodge for the alleged misconduct. Hunt asked Hershman if he wanted to read the timeline that led to his motion, but he declined. Commissioner Frank Watkins added it would be inappropriate to read off the timeline in order to have a fair investigation.

Commissioner Benton Brown agreed with Watkins about not sharing the timeline to the public at this time.

“Considering the situation we do not need (the public) to think we are leaning one way or the other,” Benton said. “When the investigation is complete, that all the findings come out together and that anything that we say didn’t sway that to the left or the right.”

The motion passed with 13-yes votes. A motion to remove Hodge from all committees pending the conclusion of the investigation failed.

Kyle Murphy contributed to this story.