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Under Mayor Lynn Seabourn, the last two Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings have been relatively brief. But as fall creeps in, shorter days are throwing longer shadows Tullahoma. Change is lurking. Monday’s agenda, 121 pages thick, carried only four “New Business” items on it.

This is a story about Monday’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting and an appointment to the Tullahoma Utilities Authority board. The five year term had ended, and seven candidates were scrounging for the position: Coffee County Commissioner Dwight Miller, local businessman John Santana, former Tullahoma Mayor Ray Knowis, TUA incumbent Mike Stanton, former Tullahoma Mayor Steve Cope, former Tullahoma Utilities Authority Board member Robert Lindeman, and environmental activist Bob Bates, Jr.   

The Tennessee Open Meetings Act of 1974 mandates a period for public comment. This is where citizens are supposed to open baskets of troubles for their leaders. Yet, on Monday the only comments came from applicants. Every applicant is required to submit a resume and fill out a form explaining why they want to be a member of the Tullahoma Utilities Authority Board. The board is expected to review these applications beforehand, but on Monday four of the seven applicants seized the podium to give a last minute reminder of their qualifications–like holding a resume and jumping the CEO in the lobby.  

When the time came to discuss the vacancy, the board members made their moves. Alderman Busch Thoma nominated the incumbent, Mike Stanton, while Alderman Bobbie Wilson backed businessman John Santana. Alderman Jerry Mathis, meanwhile, put forth former Mayor Ray Knowis, a familiar face among the old guard.

In the end, a 4-3 vote decided the matter. Incumbent Mike Stanton will fill the position for another five years.