Reynolds voted in as chairman of commission

Karean Reynolds was sworn in for his first term as the District 5 representative on the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission last November and on Jan. 21, 2020 he will take over as chairman of the board following a 4-1 vote Monday Morning.

Reynolds, 38, is serving his first of a four-year term on the commission.

"It's an honor and a privilege when your peers give you a chance like this," Reynolds said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

Reynolds will be replacing District 2 Commissioner Raymond Wiggins, who has served as the board chairman for the past four years.

Under a local bill passed by the Alabama Legislature, Escambia County voters elect five county commissioners from five districts. The commissioners then elect a full-time chairman from within the board. The chairman is paid $49,872.36 per year and the other four commissioners are paid $28,090.08.

During Monday's county commission meeting Chairman Wiggins brought the election of the chairman and vice chairman to the table. District 1 Commissioner David Stokes made a motion to name Reynolds as the chairman. District 3 Commissioner Scottie Stewart issued the second to Stokes' motion.

In the role call vote, Stokes, Stewart, Reynolds and Wiggins voted yes. District 4 County Commissioner Brandon Smith voted no.

Smith said he had nothing against Reynolds with his no vote, but was caught off guard with the motion and second.

"I've got nothing against Karean," Smith said. "I have all the confidence in the world in Karean, but it's a pretty good learning curve from commissioner to chairman."

Smith also said he had no idea Reynolds was interested in becoming the board chairman and that he supported Wiggins in keeping the chairmanship.

"Since I've been here Raymond has been fair to everybody at this table," Smith said. "I couldn't vote against a man who has done so much for the county. He's done a great job for the commission and the county as a whole. I wasn't expecting this at all."

Smith added that once Wiggins brought the issue to the table he was ready to make a motion to reappoint Wiggins as chairman, but Stokes made the motion to name Reynolds first.

"It's noting against Karean at all," Smith said. "He will do a good job, but Raymond has made a lot of contacts and has done a good job."

Reynolds works for the Children's Policy Council and is also a practicing attorney part time.

"I want to continue a great working relationship on the commission and work to better the entire county," Reynolds said.

He said one of his priorities will be to streamline the road paving across the county.

"It will take a lot of energy to address those issues because it's pretty complex," he said. "But it can be done."

Following the election of Reynolds as chairman, the board voted unanimously to reappoint Smith as the vice chairman.