After serving 14 years as Rhea County Administor of Elections , Barbara Colbaugh is ready to retire.

"I have really enjoyed it," Colbaugh said. "I'll miss all the people of Rhea County."

Colbaugh began working at the election commission 14 years ago and was promoted to election administrator two years later.

Though she'll miss meeting new Rhea Countians and visiting with long-time residents, Colbaugh, who is retiring Nov. 30, said she is ready to leave.

"This has been a hard year," she said. "I have been planning all year to retire."

Along with Administrative Assistant Pam Hixson, Colbaugh organized and worked through four major elections this year including the May County Primaries, the August County General Election and State and Federal Primaries and then the State and Federal Primaries in November.

In addition to the hectic elections, Colbaugh registers people to vote daily, is responsible for accepting candidates' qualifying petitions and coordinating everything required for an election.

After retirement, Colbaugh plans to visit her grandchildren and take it easy for a while.
"I want to thank all the nice people I've met and all of the poll workers who have been with me all these years," she said.

Hixson is also leaving the election commission office. Hixson, who has 13 years as administrative assistant, will begin working at the Rhea County Sheriff's Department in December.

According to Clay Porter, who has been with the election commission for about 14 years, Hixson was offered Colbaugh's job, but later Election Commission Chairman Arthur Ladd informed her that she couldn't have the job.

"It turned political," Porter said.

He said after Colbaugh announced her retirement earlier this year, the commission asked Hixson if she would be interested in taking Colbaugh's place.

"She said she would like to take Barbara's place, and the commission contacted the county executive," Porter said.

He said the commission asked County Executive Billy Ray Patton to find out if Hixson qualified to take over the administrative position. After researching the question, Patton concurred that Hixson was eligible, Porter said.

"It was a unanimous vote that Pam Hixson would be stepped up into the administrator of elections and supported by the county executive," he said.

Porter said about three or four days after voting on Hixson as Colbaugh's replacement, Ladd, told Hixson she could not have the job.

"The Democratic Party had an applicant that was interested, that's where it became political," Porter said.

He said the vote to appoint Hixson as administer has not been withdrawn which would legally make her the administrator when Colbaugh leaves.

Ladd, who has served on the election commission for eight years, would not comment on the political allegations surrounding the position at the election commission office.

Ladd did say Hixson has done a wonderful job at the election office.

"Pam has done a good job and I wish her the best of luck," Ladd said. "She will do her best for the sheriff."

He said people have called with objections to Hixson serving as the administrator of elections because she lives in Hamilton County.

He said both Colbaugh and Hixson have done a good job at the election commission and both ladies will be missed.

The Election Commission is taking applications through Friday to fill both Colbaugh and Hixson's positions.

Sarah B. Hodge can be reached at shodge@xtn.net.