County Commission Chairman Larry Henry on Thursday defended the three out-of-state finalists for Hamilton County school superintendent.

"I can tell you this without reservation - we have three good candidates," he told fellow members of the commission.

Commissioner Charlotte Vandergriff said commissioners should stay out of the selection process.

She said, "I certainly hope that the current personal, contentious political climate regarding the school superintendent selection does not cause all candidates to withdraw.

"It begs the question of why one would want to be here.

"It does nothing to create unity, which is what we say we are seeking.

"We need to let those charged with this responsibility to do their job independently as we did ours this morning (in filling the commission seat vacated by William Cotton)."

County Mayor Claude Ramsey called for the commission and the community to "rally around" whoever is named superintendent.

He said, "Whether we like the person or not is really irrelevant. We have a new opportunity, and what we do with that opportunity is up to us."

On the appointment process, he said, "We are out of that loop. But we can be a part of the loop by supporting the school system."

Commissioners Curtis Adams and Bill Hullander have urged naming of a local person to the post. They asked that Deputy Supt. Rick Smith be reconsidered.

They did not comment on the issue at the commission meeting.

Commissioner Richard Casavant said the county schools need to be developing leaders capable of taking over as superintendent.

He said, "I would like us to have the problem that other districts are coming in and taking away our people as superintendents elsewhere."

Chairman Henry, who served on the committee that interviewed six finalists and pared the number down to three, praised the work of the panel and said, "I have the utmost respect for the chairman, Tom Kinser."

He said of the commission, "Our role is to embrace whoever the new superintendent may be. He will not be a Moses, and he will need our help."

Chairman Henry said he brought up the issue of the selection committee allegedly violating the Sunshine Law in having a secret ballot because he had concerns that there was a violation.

The selection commission will reconvene on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Bonny Oaks headquarters of the county schools.

The County School Board at 6 p.m. Friday will intervene one of the finalists - Dr. Jim Scales.

On Saturday, the School Board will interview Dr. Steve Wilmoth at 8 a.m. and Dr. Bruce Harter at 10:15 a.m.

Dr. Wilmoth is superintendent of Liberty County Schools in Hinesville, Ga., and Dr. Scales is deputy superintendent for administrative services for the Dallas Independent School District at College Station, Tex. Dr. Harter is superintendent of the Brandywine School District in Claymont, Del.

Members of the selection panel are Tom Kinser, chairman; and Zan Guerry, Jewell Cousin, Ron Fugatt, Sandy Hughes, Dan Challener, Don Warrington, Russell Gilbert and County Commission Chairman Larry Henry. Each School Board member named a member to the panel.

Dr. Wilmoth has been at the Liberty County Schools for five years. He previously was superintendent at Fort Gibson, Okla., and Fairland, Okla.

Dr. Harter has been at Brandywine School District for five years. It has 10,700 students and a budget of $123 million.

Dr. Scales, who is the only black candidate, has been in his current position since 2001. He previously was area superintendent at Tulsa, Okla.

School Board members are to visit the home district of their choice prior to the April 20 vote.

The School Board will meet at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, to identify the final candidate for superintendent. The place for this meeting will be announced.