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Madison County Board elects Mick Madison chairperson pro tem after heated debate
Summary
After several recesses and legal questions about voting requirements, the Madison County Board elected Mick Madison chairperson pro tem by a 24–1–1 roll call, approved a vice pro tem and scheduled a possible special meeting to consider changing the ordinance that limits the chairman’s powers.
The Madison County Board voted Dec. 5 to elect Mick Madison chairperson pro tem after an extended debate over whether to postpone the election and how many votes were required to seat a pro tem.
Board member Paul Nicolussi proposed postponing the vote, arguing newly seated members needed time: “I would like to move to postpone the vote on the pro tem today… I’m just here to do the will of my voters and district 23,” he said, urging colleagues to defer until the board had more time to consider restoring the chairman’s powers.
That motion to postpone failed on a roll call: Ayes 9, Nays 16, Abstentions 1. After further nominations and short recesses to allow members to consult, the board reconvened and elected Mick Madison by roll call (Ayes 24, Nays 1, Abstentions 1). County Chairman Kurt Prenzler declared Madison chairperson pro tem.
Legal guidance on procedure and voting thresholds featured prominently. County counsel Tom Haine advised members that, under the county ordinance, a pro tem requires 14 votes: “One needs to have 14 votes in order for that person to be elected pro tem,” Haine said, and cautioned that the board could not change ordinance provisions not listed on the meeting agenda because of Open Meetings Act constraints.
Members repeatedly asked for clarification on what members were voting on. “I don’t think people understand exactly what they’re voting for, Chairman,” said Mike Babcock during the initial roll call on the postponement motion.
Following the election, Prenzler said he would circulate a petition to call a special meeting the next Tuesday to consider repeal of the resolution that had limited the chairman’s powers. The petition and whether to place ordinance changes on a future agenda remained next steps by the close of the reorganizational meeting.
The meeting included routine reorganizational business and recessed several times to allow members to consult before final votes.
