Former County Judge Chosen Circuit Clerk

December 30, 2004

HUNTSVILLE - County Commission Monday night chose former County Judge Verda "Buddy" Cope, Jr., as the new Circuit Court Clerk.

Cope, 68, who was sworn into office by County Mayor Dwight Murphy immediately after being elected by the commissioners, replaces Jan Burress, who died on December 2. Cope will serve out the two years remaining on Burress's term of office.

County Mayor Murphy and the commissioners had been expecting a long, drawn-out procedure, as a total of nine persons had thrown their hats into the ring for the vacant clerk's position. But, in the first round of voting, Cope garnered the required eight votes (a majority of the 14-member county legislative body) to be seated. Two commissioners who had cast their votes for another candidate changed their votes to Cope before the vote was formally recorded. That was followed by a motion by Commissioner Hertis Phillips that Cope be elected by acclamation, which carried by an all-aye vote.

Prior to the vote, County Mayor Murphy introduced a resolution explaining the rules which would be used in the selection process, as well as a resolution certifying that proper public notice had been given and that all applicants for the position were well qualified. Both measures carried by unanimous votes of the commission.

The list of qualified candidates for the position were identified as Kim Bates, Pam Bradley, Verda "Buddy" Cope, Jr., Kim Hardesty, Deannya Danielle Mills, Kay S. Peavyhouse, Donnie Phillips, Sarah E. Phillips Sexton and Haley Cross Terry.

Commissioner Ernest Phillips then made a motion that all candidates' names be put into nomination, which was unanimously adopted. And, finally, when the roll call vote began, each commissioner was asked to state his preference of the candidates for the position.

Commissioners voting for Cope were Leonard Bertram, Rick Burke, Odeva Byrd, Rick Keeton, Hertis Phillips, Jack Sexton, Mike Slaven and Jeff Watson. Changing votes before the motion was recorded were Ernest Phillips and Rothel "Tub" Cross, both of whom had originally cast their votes for Sexton.

Others receiving votes were Phillips (by Ron Blevins, Harold Chambers and Daniel Murley), and Hardesty (by Rick Russ).

Through the end of January, Cope will be working under the tutelage of Sharon Marcum, deputy circuit court clerk and the sister of Jan Burress. Marcum is "on loan" from the District Attorney General's office, Murphy explained.

Cope is a native and resident of the Robbins community. He is married to Jean Litton Cope, an office employee at Big John's Foodette's headquarters in Oneida. They are the parents of four children: Karen Lay, Sabra Cope, Eric Cope and Keturah Cope.

A U.S. Army Reserve veteran with six years of active and inactive duty, Cope went on to work as a Tennessee Highway Patrolman for six years (1960-66), before his election to an eight-year term as county judge in August 1966. He became the first county judge in Scott County history to succeed himself in office when he won reelection to the job in 1974. Four years later, when the state legislature voted to change the title and duties of the position, Cope served with the dual title (and duties) of county judge and county executive.

In the 1982 election, Cope was unseated by the same man (Dwight Murphy) who administered the oath of office to him for county clerk Monday night.

Since leaving office, Cope has worked as an insurance agent, as well as a pre-need counselor for West-Murley and Jones & Son funeral homes in Oneida.

"I want to say that I appreciate the support that the commissioners have given me, as well as the confidence they have shown in me," Cope said in a Tuesday morning telephone interview.

"I also want to say that I have no plans to run for this office (in 2006) . . . I will fill out the unexpired term and, if it's the Lord's will, I will retire," he stated.

On a more personal note, Cope said that he had an eerie feeling when he walked into the County Clerk's office at the Scott County Courthouse for his first day on the job Tuesday morning.

"This is the same office I had when I was county judge," he said. "The day I took office as county judge I was 30 years old. Now I'm 68!" he added.

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