“This is getting old.” Adminstrator of Elections Debbie Steidl told County Commissioners last night in what became an impassioned call to leadership.

Seeking clarification about both insurance coverage for the election commission and the level of Election Commissioner liability in a pending lawsuit against the commission, Steidl sought to prompt movement and decision making by the County Commissioners.

Steidl, along with the rest of the Election Commissioners, have been the subject of a lawsuit filed previous Administrator of Elections, Nancy Boman, last year.

Putnam County is not alone in facing this issue – several counties across the state are facing the situation that arose when Administrators of Elections across the state were unseated last year.

Administrators of Elections serve two year terms and are reappointed on that basis.

But with a republican congressional majority in Tennessee, the transfer went to a republican for the first time in many years. The result of that transfer was a lawsuit in Putnam County, filed by long term Administrator Nancy Boman, alledging that employment laws had been violated in the act.

Said Steidl, “The election commission is appointed every two years. So every two years, they’ve got to appoint another election administrator. It’s not something that somebody is firing somebody, or anything. That’s the way it is; that’s the way the rules go.”

Steidl reinforced to the Commission that the lawsuit is not the result of wrong-doing, but the result of executing the Election Commission’s work according to TCA statutes. “I want you to understand that the original lawsuit against the election commission reads, “…. as their official capacity as members of the Putnam County Election Commission…under TCA statutes, they were doing their job.”

Asserting that the lawsuit distraction is making it difficult to perform their work in this election year, Steidl said, “The election is going to come about soon, and this has been a very time-consuming process for us – determining whether or not we have insurance. I’ve only brought part of my work tonight. …Because I knew I’d scare you if I brought all of it…”

But the core issue remains whether or not the Election Commission’s legal fees will be covered by the County’s liability insurance or not. Said Steidl, “It’s been written by Mr. Jones (Attorney for Putnam County) ‘…Consequently, Putnam County, and other counties of Tennessee should not have to bear the burden of any legal defense cost.” Legal fees to date are reportedly near the $30,000 mark for Election Commissioners.

Steidl’s call to leadership was for action, decision making and shared accountability, “Come on, people. TCA said you would (cover us).

You do have to bear the burden unless somebody proves otherwise.

What I want to know is why is there a problem now? Why is there a question. You guys took care of other lawsuits before…your attorney went there, took care of them, and your insurance policy took care of the Election Commission. What has changed?”

Seemingly frustrated by a lack of information, Steidl said “Legge Insurance will not tell us anything..they’ve been told not to tell us anything. Legge told us to go back to Jeff Jones.

First Mercury is an insurance company that has some of our insurance, and they had not been told about the law suit. I’ve got two letters and they were not told – did you know that they’re supposed to be told? They are telling us (the Election Commission) that we have no insurance, but we can buy it from them to cover an election.”

Questioning the role of Jeff Jones, County Attorney, in the matter, Steidl said, “Mr. Jones is the County Attorney and that means that he takes care of ‘you guys’ (the County Commission), and those people who are elected officials. But who’s taking care of us?

We have an attorney, and you (the County Commission) won’t even pay his fees; even though the law says you shall. Have I called Mr. Jones? No. He’s not my attorney; and he’s made it clear he doesn’t want to be our attorney.”

Steidl asserted that there has been a change in coverage and attorney resources since last year for the Election Commission. “I’ve got lots of checks that show that Mr. Jones has been paid plenty of times to be the attorney for the Election Commission.

The only thing that’s changed is that we’re in a lawsuit. We’re having an election, and all of you are running… and lots of other people. So we, as a county, not just the election commission, need to determine whether we have insurance. Are we protected?”

Commissioner Bob Duncan made a motion for a meeting between the insurance committee, election commission, and the county attorney to determine coverage, but the motion died without a second.

County Executive Kim Blaylock indicated that the County Commission would consider the matter and respond as quickly as possible.

(Video forthcoming)