It took a while and got a bit complicated, but, as first prophesied by the Flyer some weeks back, Rich Holden, a Republican holdover member of the Shelby County Election Commission, has transitioned off the board into the role of commission administrator, succeeding longtime CAO James Johnson.
The move was accomplished by virtue of a 3-2 party-line vote of the commission Wednesday, later made unanimous by acclamation. Voting for Holden were commission chairman Bill Giannini, Brian Stephens, and Robert Meyers, all Republicans. Opposed were Democrats Myra Stiles and Shep Wilbun.
Meyers, another GOP holdover member, had temporarily left the commission when the local GOP’s original post-election plan to replace Johnson with Holden was shelved in deference to a preliminary caution from state Attorney General Robert Cooper regarding partisan changes on administrative staffs.
Ultimately, though, Holden stepped aside as first planned, and Meyers was renamed to the commission and was able to vote with the other GOP members to install Holden in his new role.
