MACON, Ga. — After long-time Bibb County Commissioner for District 9, Al Tillman, resigned in the middle of his term, the Bibb County Commission voted on Tillman's replacement. Enter Brendalyn Bailey.
After being the only challenger to Tillman in 2020, the lifelong resident of District 9 was appointed to the post after a 5-3 vote among the commissioners.
Bailey, who is a paraprofessional and substitute teacher at Bibb Schools, holds a BS in Human Resources from Mercer University. She then obtained an MBA from Wesleyan College.
Bailey is a Democrat and could run as an incumbent if the elections came around.
During the hearing, some commissioners and Miller clashed over Bailey's appointment.
Commissioner Elaine Lucas said that she thinks, if appointed, Bailey should be barred from running for re-election. She proposed an amendment that would do just that.
“I have no problem with the nominee," Lucas said. "My only concern is fairness.”
Lucas said appointees to the commission would typically not seek re-election "some years ago." Miller said that, while they may have been the case under the city council, he said that is not possible under the County's charter.
The county attorney, Duke Groover, agreed.
"It would not be enforceable," Groover said.
After continued back-and-forth, Groover said that — even if they passed an amendment that barred Bailey from running when election day rolled around — the amendment would not be enforceable law.
“In my opinion, if you do pass this amendment, it would not be legally binding,” Groover said.
They would eventually withdraw the amendment.
Commissioner Paul Bronson had another issue. He argued that it was unwise to move forward so fast. He said that, since the commission has more time, they should take it. They have 20 days from Tillman's resignation to decide.
Ultimately, Lucas, Bronson and Virgil Watkins were the three commissioners in opposition to Bailey's appointment. The rest of the commission voted to appoint Bailey.
She'd take her post as soon as she could get sworn in.