Murray gains board gavel; reporter’s nomination for vice chair nixed

The Warren County Board of Supervisors began the business of 2019 with nominations and election of new officers. Perhaps indicating a schism in the pre-vote maneuvering, 2018 incumbent Chairman Tony Carter took a seat at the opposite end of row one of public seating as County Administrator Doug Stanley took the gavel to chair the meeting pending election of a chairman and vice chairman.

Fork District Supervisor Archie Fox responded to Stanley’s call for nominations, quickly naming North River Supervisor Dan Murray for the chairmanship. Shenandoah District Supervisor Tom Sayre seconded Murray’s nomination. Murray was then elected unanimously by a voice vote. Fox then nominated Sayre for the vice chairmanship, with Murray seconding.

Tony Carter takes a seat away from his colleagues BUT close to the auxiliary press table seat of Royal Examiner reporter Roger Bianchini.

Things took a turn for the unexpected at that point when Carter nominated “Roger Bianchini” for vice chair. Caught up in the moment, newly-elected Board Chairman Murray indicated a potential change of preferences, offering his second, second – this time of Bianchini for the vice chairmanship.

However the building momentum of support for Bianchini was unceremoniously derailed when Acting Chair Stanley refused to recognize the nomination of yours truly on the rather shaky premise that the nominee was not a member of the board to which he had been nominated for the vice chairmanship, a role he has long been groomed for and would obviously embrace.

Bianchini on the county vice chairmanship campaign stump?

With the charging dark horse favorite’s name off the table, the now uncontested Sayre nomination was approved without dissent – or much enthusiasm if you ask me.
If you don’t believe me – watch this Royal Examiner video exclusive.