Wamp Sets Up Reception For His Choice As Next County Attorney, Though Taylor Under Contract Through July

  • Friday, December 6, 2024
Rheubin Taylor
Rheubin Taylor

County Mayor Weston Wamp held an unannounced reception for his choice for the next county attorney on Friday afternoon at the county mayor's conference room.

Only County Commission members were invited to the Meet and Greet with attorney Janie Parks Varnell.

That comes though the longtime county attorney, Rheubin Taylor, is under contract through next July.

Mary Francis Hoots of the county mayor's office said, "Our office is disappointed that a county commissioner chose to leak a private meeting with a candidate for the position of county attorney.

"As Chancellor Atherton ruled and CTAS has opined, when Rheubin Taylor’s contract expires on June 30th, Mayor Wamp has the power to appoint a new county attorney. Our office has been working with county commissioners to establish an appropriate transition for the county attorney’s office in the months ahead.”

County Attorney Taylor, 76, has told County Commission members that he would like to serve two years beyond the July 2025 date. He would need six votes of the County Commission to have his contract extended.

County Mayor Wamp, soon after coming into office, informed County Attorney Taylor that he was being fired. County Attorney Taylor resisted, and a lawsuit ensued.

Chancellor Jeff Atherton ruled in favor of County Attorney Taylor, and county taxpayers had to pay over $200,000 in legal costs.

Mr. Taylor has been county attorney since 1993.

He was the first licensed black attorney in Chattanooga. In 1977, he served on the state Constitutional Convention that developed the new form of county government.

He was on the initial County Commission in 1978 and served for 15 years.

Mr. Taylor has been the pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in LaFayette, Ga., for 29 years.

Ms. Varnell is an attorney with the Davis & Hoss law firm.

She is the daughter of former Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks.

Janie Parks Varnell
Janie Parks Varnell
Breaking News
Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 4/4/2025

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) BLUE,JAMES ... more

Arrest Made In Numerous Car Break-Ins At UTC
Arrest Made In Numerous Car Break-Ins At UTC
  • 4/3/2025

An arrest has been made in connection with numerous auto burglaries at the UTC campus. On Wednesday, the UTC Police Department and the Chattanooga Police Department executed a search warrant ... more

100 Years Of Radio In Chattanooga
100 Years Of Radio In Chattanooga
  • 4/3/2025

Radio has been described as the “theater of the mind” and certainly, sometimes, leaves a lot to one’s imagination. April 13 th , 1924, two men from Ohio came to Chattanooga to begin a century ... more