Commission appoints Dr. Tom Hyde to fill Hamblen County District 1 seat

The Hamblen County Commission on Thursday voted to appoint Dr. Tom Hyde to fill the unexpired District 1 seat left by the late Joe Huntsman.

Commissioner Bobby Hahn nominated Hyde and the motion passed on a roll call vote. After the vote, Hyde took the oath of office and addressed the commission, saying he has served on the Hamblen County Road Commission for decades and pledged to safeguard county finances. "I will treat every citizen with dignity and respect," Hyde said after taking the oath.

The appointment followed public comment from Gwen Holden, who urged the commission to require Hyde to repay roughly $800 she said he received improperly for canceled road-commission meetings in 2020. Commissioners and staff responded that the matter is tied to pending litigation and that Hyde offered to place a check with the clerk while the suit is resolved. A county representative said an answer to the complaint had been filed recently and that the legal matter remains under adjudication.

Commissioners who voted in favor noted Hyde’s long service. "I've known Mr. Hyde for a great number of years, and I found him to be a man of high integrity," said the speaker who moved the motion. The commission recorded the roll call, and the motion carried; Hyde was sworn in immediately and signed the oath paperwork.

The commission did not take any additional formal action on the lawsuit during the meeting. The legal dispute referenced during public comment remains pending in court.