Turmoil On Cocke County CLB As Commissioner Resigns; Chairman Steps Down

Cocke County District 4 is now down a CLB member. That after Cocke County Commissioner Jeff Eslinger stepped down from his post on Tuesday. Eslinger sent a letter to Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis on Tuesday saying that he was resigning from his seat on the CLB effective immediatly. Eslinger stated in the letter that he made the decision to step down after the CLB’s budget meeting Monday night. He stated that he feels the county is not moving in the right direction and pointed out that adding $16,000 back into the budget for Cocke County Property Assessor Macie Reed’s office was the “straw that broke the camel’s back”. Also CLB Chairman Norman Smith announced that he was stepping down from his post as chairman, but will remain as a commissioner on the board. Smith gave no explaination for his departure from the chairman seat. Smith represents District 3 Post 1 on the CLB.

Cocke County Clerk Shalee McClure is tasked with navigating unfamiliar territory as she has never had a chairman resign from the CLB. The chairman is who the County Clerk normally calls when a commissioner resigns. McClure is enlisting the county attorney for assistance in this matter.