The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors hasappointed Betty Carroll Rushing the interim District Four electioncommissioner following Janie Sisco’s recent resignation.

    The board held a called meeting Thursday morning at which DistrictFour Supervisor Eddie Brown made the motion to appoint Rushing. Theappointment was unanimously approved, said County AdministratorDavid Fields.

    Rushing will fill the post until November, when voters will nextchoose election commissioners. She would not rule out thepossibility she would seek the District Four commissioner office inNovember’s elections.

    “I wouldn’t say I wasn’t or was interested in running,” Rushingsaid. “It’s a possibility.”

    Brown pointed to Rushing’s personal qualities as a deciding factorin his recommendation of her for the post.

    “She’s just a good person that’s well known in the community,”Brown said. “I feel very comfortable with her appointment.”

    Brown said he consulted with Sisco, and she recommended Brown seeksomeone experienced with computers.

    Rushing’s work experience at a bank gives her the necessarybackground Sisco recommended, Brown said. Rushing retired fromTrustmark Bank last year and she said that will give her the timeto take up the office.

    “I retired last April, and I just thought this would be something Icould do,” Rushing said.

    Rushing’s appointment is timely.

    All election commissioners are scheduled for training next week, soRushing will have be able to participate in that, said JamesTillman, District One election commissioner and chairman of thecommissioners. He said a special session for new commissioners willoccur at next week’s training.

    Tillman believes the transition from Sisco to Rushing will notpresent any problems.

    “I’ve known her for a while,” Tillman said of Rushing. “She’ll be aquick study.”

    Brown received a number of calls from people indicating theirinterest in the interim appointment and stating interest in runningfor the position. However, Brown said he did want to use anappointment to aid potential candidates.

    “I want to stay away from that,” the supervisor said.

    Rushing replaces Sisco, who resigned as election commissionereffective Jan. 13, stating her intention to seek the office ofcounty circuit clerk.

    That office that became vacant following Terry Lynn Watkins’ Jan. 6resignation as part of a plea bargain. Sherry Jordan was appointedinterim circuit clerk.

    The board of supervisors has thus made two appointments to countyoffices since current supervisors began their term of office Jan.3.

    For his part, Brown hopes no other appointments are required of theboard in the near future.

    “I hope no one else resigns,” Brown said.