During a special meeting, called for December 31, Fisher County Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint John "Pat" Dickson as sheriff.
Commissioner Micah Evans, Precinct 4, advised Dickson that his duties would be administrative. This is due to Dickson not holding a peace officer license.
Officers who have been appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective office have two years to get licensed.
Commissioners also voted unanimously to accept Sheriff Tom Pohlman's resignation.
Fisher County Commissioners have called a special meeting for December 31, 2024, 9 a.m.
The only item of action listed on the meeting agenda is to appoint a sheriff.
During the November 18 election canvass meeting, Fisher County Judge Ken Holt ruled Simon Wade ineligible to hold the office of sheriff, despite having won more than three times the votes as his opponent, Tom Pohlman.
Wade was appointed sheriff in July of 2023, after Sheriff Randy Ford resigned.
Wade ran, and won, in the March 2024 primary, in an uncontested race, but he resigned from office a few days later. He does not have a Texas Peace Officer License, which is required to be a sheriff.
Pohlman, who was serving as a deputy with the Fisher County Sheriff's Office, was then appointed sheriff by the commissioners court.
Timeline:
What's next? The Texas election code says that if the deceased, withdrawn, or ineligible candidate receives the vote required for election, the resulting vacancy shall be filled in the regular manner.
Does that mean another appointment? Or keep on keeping on with Pohlman? Will time tell? Does it matter? Maybe not, but it's an interesting study in election minutiae.
Info: Texas Election Code Chapter 145.005 |
| - Trencher, west of Hobbs - |
The commissioners court is going to be interesting next week, in light of the outcome of the Fisher County election. Simon Wade, former sheriff, who resigned last March, won the race by an overwhelming margin. Tom Pohlman, a sheriff's department employee at the time of Wade's resignation, was appointed as sheriff after Wade's departure. There's an article in the Double Mountain Chronicle this week that explains the situation.
The commissioners court regular meeting is set for November 12. A special meeting to conduct the local canvass is slated for the following week, November 18.
Three and half inches or so of rain was measured in the Hobbs area last week. More rain is expected today and tomorrow, spurred by an upper level low coming through. Severe weather is predicted.
Sources:
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| - Official write-in candidate - |
The Texas Secretary of State has the current sheriff, Tom Pohlman, registered as an official candidate.
Pohlman was appointed as sheriff last March. This was after the former sheriff, Simon Wade, resigned, when it became certain Wade would be ousted for licensing issues.
Wade is still on the ballot under the Republican Party, while Pohlman is designated as a write-in.
The lots where the old Palomino Motel used to sit on East Broadway in Sweetwater will be up for auction on October 4. The estimated minimum bid is $27,980.00, according to Perdue Brandon (Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott), tax attorneys for Nolan County.
The .434 acre site is one of 19 parcels in Nolan County that are being sold for back taxes.
The address of the former Palomino is 1500 E Broadway. More information can be found on the Nolan County Appraisal District site.
The neon sign from the motel now resides at Cook's Garage, a bar and grill in Lubbock.
The Texas Historical Commission estimates the motel was built in 1935.
The motel was razed in 2020 by the city. A photo of the demolition appeared in the October 1, 2020 issue of the Sweetwater Reporter.
The auction will take place on the north side of the Nolan County Courthouse in Sweetwater, scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Well, I was right about the last meeting (meetings, rather, it lasted for two days, with breaks). There was yelling, cursing and a walk out. Invigorating!
Once again the question of whether or not to close the jail was raised, and it was the contributing factor for much of the hubbub. It wasn't on the agenda, but the topic was introduced by County Judge Ken Holt, presiding officer of the commissioners court. It seemed an odd time to bring it up, after numerous presentations from vendors for services at the jail.
Anyway, during the budget meeting the next day, the court decided to leave the jail open. Holt was not present. Everyone agreed, or understood, the jail is not a money-making proposition, but a needed service for the community.
Tomorrow the Court is scheduled to discuss and vote on the following items: