HUNTINGDON (April 27) Vince Taylor of Huntingdon is the new administrator of elections for Carroll County. Taylor fills the position vacated by Linda Radford after her retirement on December 31, 2008. Deputy administrator Doris Rich has maintained the day-to-day operations since Radford's retirement.

Taylor is a 1970 graduate of Huntingdon High School and a graduate of UT-Martin. He and wife, Glenda, have one daughter, Morgan, a junior at HHS. He is the son of Christine Taylor and the late Parnell Taylor (R-Huntingdon), a former state representative. Parnell Taylor also owned the former Pontiac dealership in Huntingdon.

"I feel very privileged to be selected from among the slate of quality candidates," said Taylor. "I will serve and treat everyone equally and fairly and try to be the best election official I can be." He noted he has lots to learn about the position.

Taylor is a sales representative with Ray Smith Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick in Camden. He has spent most of his work years in automotive sales. Taylor worked in the Huntingdon Chevrolet-Pontiac dealership until it closed in 1989, when it was no longer family owned. He and Kenny McBride started and owned Volunteer Motor Company in Huntingdon in the mid-1990s. Taylor has worked with Ray Smith for the past 14 years.

Mayor Kenny McBride said, "I believe Vince will be fair and honest in this new position."

He was selected Monday from a field of 10 persons who were interviewed for the position. Interviewees included: Lindsey Anderson, Russell Bush, and David C. White, Jeff Carter, Mark D. Cunningham, Mike Newsome, and Taylor, all of Huntingdon, Craig R. Hobson and Teresa Washburn, both of McKenzie, and Gina R. Fry of Cedar Grove.

Recently, every county election commission in the state switched to a Republican majority because the Republicans took control of both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. This is the first majority for the Republicans since Reconstruction following the Civil War.

Local election commissions were strongly encouraged to select administrators with "Republican credentials."

In nearby Weakley and Henry counties, the existing administrators are concerned they may be replaced with persons with partisan credentials.

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