Establishment of Legal Fund to Defend Union County, TN Constables from being Abolished by Union County Commission Using Untransparent and Misleading Verbiage on Agenda!

We the People of Union County, Tennessee, have secured legal representation to challenge a recent Union County Commission vote to abolish constables. Our cost includes a filing fee of approximately $300 to be payable to Union County Court Clerk as a filing fee, a $300 retainer for our attorney for legal representation and extra funds to cover any unanticipated additional costs with GoFundMe.com. Any left over funds will be donated to the Tennessee Constable Association.We believe Union County Commissioners violated may have violated Tennessee Open Records Law. Due to county commission's actions, the people of our county have been placed at a huge disadvantage to fundraise to challenge county commission's vote on February 24, 2025.

Our constables work to protect and patrol our communities at no charge to taxpayers and are an asset to local law enforcement agencies facing officer shortages, saving tens of thousands of dollars per year for the county. Several of our constables have received awards and recognition for their bravery in saving lives as well as preventing crime and making arrests. Our active constables are bonded and go to required training annually. Their passion for law enforcement is demonstrated by their willingness to pay out of pocket for their vehicles, uniforms and equipment.

In the state of Tennessee, county commissioners can abolish elected constables with two-thirds majority vote during two consecutive meetings. Constables possess a surety bond and many counties add them to county insurance policies to cover any additional liability.

Although there was a line item on the county commission agenda to have a constable discussion, there was no indication that this would turn into an abolishment vote. An executive meeting was started toward the end of the regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025. Mayor Jason Bailey announced there would be a private executive session attended by county commission, himself and a few miscellaneous people. Neither attendees nor media were allowed to attend and many people in attendance left not knowing how long the executive meeting would take.

At the end of the executive meeting, commissioners returned to a smaller number of attendees and an immediate motion followed to abolish the Union County Constables with the required first and second motion including a unanimous vote by county commission.

Because county commission tried to abolish constables several years ago unsuccessfully due to constables' being supported by the community, we believe the vague topic was placed purposely at the end of the meeting, following an executive session to mislead the public with non-threatening verbiage entitled "constable discussion" to place the citizens of this county at a huge disadvantage to have a say-so in the matter.

Due to legal advisement that this may be a violation of the Tennessee Open Records Law, we are raising the funds to have legal representation with the intent of making the first of two votes on constable abolishment null and void. Legal Counsel will request that the constable topic be scheduled at a future meeting and presented in a transparent manner that does not violate Tennessee Open Records law or the public trust.

Will you help us raise the funds necessary so that we have a voice to protect the office of constables in our community and stop county commission from similar actions in the future? We need your financial support to challenge this vote TODAY! Thank you for supporting our community and the office of Constable.