“At this time, I decline.”
With those five words making up the full content of an April 2 letter, Michael Nobles declined McComb Mayor Zach Patterson’s nomination to fill the unexpired term of John H. “Bubber” White on the Pike County Economic Development District Board of Trustees.
White died Tuesday.
Patterson responded on April 3 by sending selectmen a letter nominating former city official Jacqueline Martin for the economic board. He sent a copy of the letter to Martin.
Patterson nominated Nobles, the father of Selectman E.C. Nobles, for the position on April 1.
Attempts to contact Michael Nobles about his decision were unsuccessful at presstime.
Patterson will put Martin’s nomination before the board during its meeting next Tuesday. He said Martin has agreed to accept the nomination to complete White’s term on the board, which ends on Feb. 3, 2010.
“You all know Ms. Jackie Martin, for she has served a distinguished and remarkable career spanning over 26 years as our director of administration and culminating as the interim city administrator,” Patterson wrote.
He added, “She is the quintessential professional with unlimited potential and dedication and love for our city and Pike County.”
E.C. Nobles declined Tuesday to comment on his father’s decision or on Martin’s nomination.
Selectman Danny Esch said this morning that he respected Michael Nobles’ decision to decline the nomination.
Selectman Wade Lamb also said he respected Nobles’ decision.
“It’s obvious that he knows what his obligations already are,” he said.
Lamb said Nobles’ nomination came as a surprise to most of the board members, adding, “We never discussed this prior to his nomination, as the mayor has always asked us in the past to look across the community for candidates.”
He said the economic development board needs to continue its work and keep moving ahead.
“I think we need to look at everyone who may be interested in this board,” Lamb said.
“The mayor said we should look at everyone in the community when we consider appointments to these boards, and then he comes to us with just one person.”
Lamb declined to comment on Martin.
Selectman Melvin Joe Johnson said he has known Martin a long time, “even before she was with the city.”
He called her nomination a wonderful selection, but added that the board will have to make the final decision.
He said he received calls from people who thought that Michael Nobles’ nomination may have been a conflict of interest because his son was on the board of selectmen.
“I just told him (Michael Nobles) to see what’s what,” Johnson said. “I believe he had a good reason for that (decision) pertaining to his job with the railroad and his business.”
Selectman Robert Maddox called Martin “a real nice person.”
He said the position on the economic development board needs someone who is involved in a local business.
“Someone who has a vested interest in seeing the economy grow,” he said.
