The County Commission voted 5-4 on Wednesday to name Randy Russell as the chief magistrate in place of Larry Ables.
It was tied 4-4 when it came the turn of Chairman Larry Henry to vote. He is the uncle of Mr. Ables, but he voted for Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell also got support from Joe Graham, Jim Fields, Marty Haynes and Fred Skillern.
Backing Mr. Ables were Chester Bankston, Tim Boyd, Greg Beck and Warren Mackey.
The commission did return Mr. Ables as one of the four magistrates. He got six votes from a slate of 10 candidates.
However, Bob Davis was not retained. He received four votes, but Jeffrey Davis got five.
Voting for Bob Davis were Commissioners Bankston, Beck, Boyd and Mackey. Voting for Jeffrey Davis were Commissioners Graham, Fields, Haynes, Skillern and Henry.
Phillip Strang picked up votes from Commissioners Graham and Fields. Christy Jindra received a vote from Commissioner Haynes.
The other two magistrates - who were not up for a vote - are Sharetta Smith and Mr. Russell.
The magistrates make $59,363 and the chief magistrate gets $5,000 more.
The magistrates work mainly in the evenings and weekends to set bonds and sign warrants at the county jail.
They serve for one-year terms.