Buena Vista Mayor Tyson Cooper cast the deciding votes this past Thursday that will put his opponent in the Nov. 4 election, Jesse Lineberry, on the city’s Planning Commission.
Lineberry was appointed to a four-year term that commences Sept. 1. He is filling the seat that’s been held by Justin Wiseman, who did not seek reappointment. Wiseman’s term expires Aug. 31.
Lineberry and Kathy Janiczek had each applied for the pending vacancy. Melvin Henson put Janiczek’s name in nomination with a motion that was seconded by Ron Cash. Stanley Coffey put Lineberry’s name in nomination with a motion that was seconded by Danny Staton.
A vote was taken on the initial nomination of Janiczek. Henson, Cash and Michelle Poluikis voted for her while Coffey, Staton and Cooper voted against her so the motion died on a 3-3 tie.
On the nomination of Lineberry, Coffey, Staton, Cash and Cooper voted for him while Henson and Poluikis voted against him. So, Lineberry’s nomination prevailed on a 4-2 vote. (Council member Steve Webb was absent.)
Asked Friday about his decisive votes to put his political rival on the Commission, Cooper responded, “I’m thrilled whenever I see individuals decide to get involved in our community. It was just a couple of months ago that Mr. Lineberry began attending City Council meetings and learning a little bit about how local government operates so he’s still really new to it and doesn’t yet have the breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding that citizens expect from those who lead their community.
“I’m confident that the chair of our Planning Commission, Mr. Dennis Hawes, who has decades of experience in his role, will help mentor Mr. Lineberry. When he expressed an interest in serving on the Planning Commission, I was excited and I hope that his service on the Planning Commission over the next few years helps better prepare him for serving in elected office someday in the future.”
Lineberry’s service on the Commission could be shortlived if he should be elected mayor later this year. The Commission’s bylaws permit only one member of City Council, including the mayor, to serve on the Commission at a time. Henson is presently that member. If Henson, who is up for re-election to his Council seat, and Lineberry both win in the upcoming election, one of them would have to step down from the Commission.
