After reviewing applications for one part-time judicial commissioner job that narrowed down the prospects to four, interviews ended with Chase McGee being selected to fill the position.
“I am happy I got the position,” said McGee. “This is something that has interested me. I had talked to other judicial commissioners about it and I thought I would apply. Hopefully, this will all work out and I will enjoy it.”
McGee understands the job isn’t a bed of roses.
“I don’t have any background with being a judicial commissioner,” he said. “I looked into it and read on the Internet about it. I talked to other judicial commissioners so I understand what the job requires. It sounds like it would be interesting, which is why I applied. I plan to do the best job I can.”
County Executive John Pelham says the selection was a close one.
“The scores were very, very close on all of them,” said Pelham. “All four of the individuals were well qualified. It was a tough decision.”
The decision was made last week after Policy and Personnel Committee members interviewed the four individuals who scored the best when the 13 applicants had their qualifications reviewed July 31. On the committee are County Commissioners Ken Martin, Wayne Copeland, Charles Morgan, Kenneth Rogers and George Smartt.
Some individuals were removed from consideration out of location, availability, writing legibility and not filling out the application properly.
One individual lives in North Carolina and stated they would be moving to Warren County.
“Unless he’s here, I don’t think we can consider anyone if they don’t already live here,” said Copeland.
Martin added, “I’m like you, Wayne. I want them to live in Warren County. I just feel better if they do.”
Along with being a Warren County resident, judicial commissioners must live within 15 minutes of the jail. One applicant lived inside Warren County but outside that driving distance.
“I would be surprised, from where he is at, if he could get to the jail in 15 minutes even if he had an airplane,” said Copeland. “Hubbard’s Cove is as far away as you can get. Coming through Viola and another 11 miles to McMinnville. I hate to knock someone for that reason, but they are supposed to be within 15 minutes.”
The same concern was raised for teachers, as that profession does not allow the flexibility needed to leave work spontaneously if they are called to the jail to write a warrant in the 15 minutes given.
One applicant’s handwriting was not legible.
“I just wish these people understood,” said Pelham. “I know we do warrants on computer now, but there is still a lot of handwriting. When they turn an application in that we can’t read, what are we supposed to do with it? They may be the best people in the world, but we have to consider how they write.”
One applicant’s handwriting was nonexistent. While the individual included a typed resume with the application, they left the application itself blank.
“Oh my goodness,” said Pelham. “He’s got a sheet attached, but he didn’t fill out anything. The application is completely blank. He has typed this out and attached it, but it doesn’t have the history on there we need.”
The scoring system used was applicants were rated from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best possible score. With four officials at the meeting, 20 would have been the best possible score. The top four scores were 16, and a three-way tie of 15.
If McGee passes all the pre-employment qualifications and is accepted by the full court, he will be sworn in on Aug. 18.