Spencer council defers municipal judge decision after candidate interviews

The City of Spencer held a special called council meeting on Feb. 20, 2025 to resume interviews for the municipal judge position; Mayor Farmer opened the session and told applicants that no decision would be made that night and that the council would act at its Feb. 27 regular meeting.

Mayor Farmer announced that applicants should remain in a waiting area until their name was called to ensure fairness. The council identified four candidates: Scott Horton, Matthew Bailey, Macey Gurley and Brandon Griffin. Each applicant was asked the same set of questions covering background, familiarity with Tennessee municipal court procedures, experience interpreting and applying local ordinances in a municipal court setting, maintaining professional boundaries with attorneys and law enforcement, the municipal court’s role in promoting public safety and community well-being, ensuring consistency across similar cases, strategies for staying current on Tennessee state law, earliest possible start date if hired, and how they would communicate changes with staff.

No formal action or vote was taken on the appointment at the special meeting. Mayor Farmer stated a hiring decision would be made at the council’s regular meeting on Feb. 27, 2025, and invited all applicants to attend. After the interviews concluded, Vice Mayor Drew Campbell moved to adjourn; Alderman Jerry Blankenship seconded the motion, the council voted in favor and the meeting was adjourned.

The session included roll call noting Aldermen Jody Hensley, Darrell Nance, Drew Campbell, Jerry Blankenship and David Chandler were present and city staff including Police Chief Scott Garing, Officer Michael Hickman, City Recorder Crystal Crain and Court Clerk Tabitha Robinson were in attendance. There were no citizen comments recorded during the meeting.