By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Randy Hemann has made the race so tight for the city manager’s job in Red Bank, Tenn., elected officials will put off a decision for another week to ponder their vote.
Hemann, executive director for Downtown Salisbury Inc., is up against four candidates, all from Red Bank. The Red Bank Commission met at noon Tuesday to discuss the finalists. Members were supposed to vote Tuesday night, but three of five commissioners asked for another week to deliberate, Mayor Monty Millard said.
During the lunch meeting, three commission members said Hemann is near the top of their list, according to an article posted at www.chattanoogan.com . One commissioner called the decision “a real horse race,” the website said.
Two commissioners mentioned candidate Mark Mathews, who serves as Red Bank’s fire chief, and two spoke favorably about candidate Jim Folkner, according to the article. Folkner, a businessman, led a recall of Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield.
“I’m certainly giving Randy some very strong consideration,” said Millard, who has a vote. “He’s one of two or three favorites.”
Other contenders are Randy Fairbanks and Marty Von Schaaf.
Millard said he will call a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Hemann has declined to comment on throwing his hat in the ring for the top job in Red Bank, a small city of 11,000 completely surrounded by Chattanooga. The decision surprised many in Salisbury, where Hemann has led Downtown Salisbury since 1997.
In a public meeting where the Red Bank Commission interviewed him, Hemann said he had peaked in his career in downtown development and was looking for a new challenge.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.