Hamilton County GOP chairman steps down
DeGaetano to seek judge appointment
Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Joe DeGaetano has announced he will step down from his post so he can seek appointment as a Hamilton County Circuit Court judge.
Judge Neil Thomas, who has served on the Circuit Court bench for 20 years, said in May he would resign Oct. 5.
“After deep reflection with my family, and at the urging of many fellow Republicans, I have decided to apply for the Governor’s appointment to serve as Circuit Court Judge, and to run for election in the May 2018 Republican Primary,” DeGaetano said in a written statement.
“Regrettably, because Rule 4.1 of the Tennessee Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits a judicial candidate (whether for election or appointment) from holding an office in a political organization, I am required to step down as Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party in order to seek the appointment to serve as Circuit Court Judge.”
DeGaetano said he would submit his application this week. The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission plans to interview applicants Aug. 30 and submit three finalists to Gov. Bill Haslam for a decision. The appointee will serve until a special election can be held in August 2018. The winner will finish the remainder of Thomas’ term, which expires in 2022.
Thomas has called his service “an extraordinary honor” he would cherish forever, according to Times Free Press archives.
“Leaving the bench will permit me to invest so much more time in my heart’s desire — our great community and my family,” Thomas said.
According to Hamilton County Republican Party by-laws, the vice chairman will take over the party temporarily. The executive committee must meet within 30 days of the vacancy to name a new chairman.
Vice Chairwoman Marsha Yessick said she was willing to serve as the party leader until the scheduled biannual reorganization in 2019, DeGaetano said, adding he was confident she would serve well.
This is not the first time DeGaetano has sought election as a judge. In 2012, he was a General Sessions Court judge candidate.
The Hamilton County Republican Party elected DeGaetano to serve as its chairman in February.