The County Commission on Thursday morning tried three times, but remained deadlocked on picking a replacement for Charles Love on the County School Board.
The vote was four for Andrea Smith and four for Jeffrey Wilson. Commissioner William Cotton passed on all three votes.
A revote was set for next Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
Commissioner Curtis Adams said, "I've been here almost 18 years and I've never seen a vote like this - where people are not willing to take a stand."
He added, "We could have settled this today. Eight of us voted and one wimp wouldn't vote."
Commissioner Cotton did not respond, but later he said he had "always been an advocate of community representation." He said the community had gone through a process and its voice should have been heard.
District 5 Commissioner Greg Beck had named a group of community leaders, and they chose three finalists. County Commissioners then held their own interviews, and none of the community finalists were among their final two.
After several commissioners traded charges, new Commission Chairman Larry Henry said, "We've got to quit playing these quagmires and these personality games. We've got to take care of Hamilton County's business and quit this tit for tat."
He added, "The community is tired of this constant bickering. It needs to stop."
Voting for Andrea Smith were Commissioners Adams, Fred Skillern, Bill Hullander and Lou Miller.
Voting for Jeffrey Wilson were Commissioners Beck, Henry, Richard Casavant and Charlotte Vandergriff.
Ms. Smith is a nursing supervisor at Erlanger Medical Center and is the wife of Will Smith, chairman of the Planning Commission.
Mr. Wilson is a probation officer at Juvenile Court.
He said he was advised there is no prohibition against a person holding his position in county government from serving on the County School Board.
Mr. Wilson said, "Maybe it will go my way next time."
Asked if he knew why Commissioner Cotton passed, he said, "I wouldn't dare speculate why. I know he's a good thinker and he's a man of conviction."
During the meeting, Commissioner Adams said he received a call from Commissioner Cotton at home one night last week. He said Commissioner Cotton was complaining about the way Commissioner Beck was conducting the community meetings to choose a school board member and said he and former Commissioner JoAnne Favors had problems with it.
Commissioner Cotton denied he had called Commissioner Adams, who said it was the first time in 10 years he had gotten a call from Commissioner Cotton.
Commissioner Beck said Commissioner Skillern had told Mr. Wilson he was a good candidate and, if he did not get the appointment, he should run for the office. Commissioner Beck said that amounted to "playing games." He said, "If we want to continue playing hegemony, that's fine."