Madison County Commission Accepts Sheriff Woolfork’s Retirement
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JACKSON, Tenn. – A unanimous vote Tuesday morning as the Madison County Commission accepts David Woolfork’s retirement as sheriff of Madison County. “We’ve been going through this process since the end of last year, and I think people are wanting to move forward and wanting to get a fresh start,” Commission Chairman Mark Johnstone said. Although Chief Deputy Tommy Cunningham, by statute, became interim sheriff, the commission will still appoint a successor. “They are required by law to appoint a successor because the vacancy is occurring more than 120 days before the election, so they didn’t have a choice,” Madison County attorney Steve Maroney said. The county commissioners hope to appoint an interim sheriff on March 17. Cunningham said with the current employees backing, he will apply for the positions. Applications will be accepted until March 3. “They want me to stay because they feel like I’m the best qualified person to make the sheriff’s office run smoothly,” Cunningham said. Many commissioners said this entire ordeal has been very difficult on them, and they know it’s been hard on the people in the community as well. At this point, they said they are just happy to move on and put Sheriff Woolfork’s tenure in the past. “It’s been a taxing and difficult situation, and we just have to persevere and push through and do what’s right for the taxpayers and for this county,” Johnstone said. A new sheriff will be elected August 7. However, the commission-appointed interim sheriff will serve until the end of August when Woolfork’s term expires.
