Recent election will result in changes to election commission

Republicans won a majority of seats in the Tennessee General Assembly, and they'll soon claim a majority in county election commissions, too.

Tennessee law specifies that the State Election Commission and all county election commissions be composed of three representatives of the political party holding the majority of seats in the General Assembly and two from the minority party.

Since the Republicans won the majority in the November election for the first time in 40 years, the composition of the Dyer County Election Commission is going to change.

Election Administrator Jane Heathcott said she expects the new commission will be appointed in March or April. By law, the changes must be made by the first Monday in April.

Typically, she said, local political parties recommend their selections to General Assembly members, who then make their recommendations to the State Election Commission. The State Election Commission makes the appointments.

Currently serving on the Dyer County Election Commission are:

* Bobby O. Cook, a Republican who joined the commission in 2000.

* Joe M. Enoch, a Republican who has served on the commission since 1985.

* Thomas D. Parnell, a Democrat who was joined the commission in 2004 and was elected chairman on July 7, 2005.

* Harold Sartin, a Democrat who attended his first meeting as a commissioner on May 7, 2007.

* Vernita Turner, a Democrat who has served on the commission since 1987.