Chester Bankston to leave Hamilton County Commission, creating vacancy
Apr. 21—District 9 Hamilton County Commissioner Chester Bankston will retire from his seat in May, halfway through his third term.
Bankston, who was elected to the commission in 2010 and served on the county school board from 2006-2010, will leave his seat with over a year left before the next commission election in August 2022 to move to Florida.
"It's kind of bitter and sweet," Bankston said, noting that he had sold his house. "May 31 will be the last day that I'm able to serve the great people of District 9. I will be resigning that day."
The seat will be filled by an appointee of the remaining eight commissioners.
Bankston's district includes the Snow Hill, Collegedale and Harrison areas.
He serves on the Diversity and Equity, Legal and Legislative, Education, and Roads, Waste, Energy Transportation and Zoning Committees.
District 7 Commissioner Sabrena Smedley said Bankston will be a "tremendous loss" to the commission.
Commissioners will collect resumes for the position starting Monday.
"As best we can, a decision by the eight of us commissioners, will be done after and potentially on June 2," Chairman Chip Baker said.
This is a developing story, stay with the Times Free Press for updates.
Contact Sarah Grace Taylor at staylor@timesfreepress.comor 423-757-6416. Follow her on Twitter @_sarahgtaylor.
