By V. Hugh Lewis II, Jimplecute
Jacob Pattinson is Marion County’s newest Commissioner for Precinct 2.
Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur appointed Pattison to fill the vacant seat created when Commissioner joe McKnight passed away in late January.
“I’ve wanted to work in my hometown and so far Gods’ let me do that,” said Pattison. “I worked for the City for 15 years. Then I came to the County and Joe hired me. He’s known me all my life. When it came to this it just seemed like what Joe would want me to do. We all miss him a whole lot and when Joe passed I had no expectations of taking this position, but as time went by, it was pretty much already in the future for me to take it.”
Pattison said he cannot replace McKnight, but is “glad to get the opportunity to follow Joe and I have some awful big shoes to fill. I’m glad to get a chance to serve. They’ve put up with me and I think I’ll do my best to make sure everyone is taken care of as best I can—or at least as how Joe would have done it. I had a pretty good teacher. I’ve got a lot to learn but I’ve done this kind of work for years. The business end is what I have to learn.”
Pattison and his wife Dana will celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary on April 12. He has an 18-year-old son and a three and a half month granddaughter.
“I live on my family’s homeplace,” Pattison said. “Mom and dad are just up the hill and we take care of each other. I love the people here and the friends I’ve made through the years. I have a lot bigger family than just relatives. I consider my friends my family. [Joe and I] weren’t kin but I think of much of him as my own dad. I think I’ve been blessed and God put me in this position for a reason.”
As far as potentially seeking election to the office, Pattison said he hasn’t decided.
“I’m going to let time figure this out,” he said. “I never expected to take rest of Joe’s time but I saw that that might be the best thing to do. I’m just going to see how it goes.”
Pattison said he enjoys working with the rest of the team in Precinct 2, and intends to keep working with them.
“I’m a laborer – that’s what done whole life – I still get out there and work with my men, just like Joe did, and I’d rather do that,” he said. “It’s better for your crew to see that. I just feel comfortable working with them.”
Commissioners witnessed the appointment during a special meeting on Monday. The position runs through December 31, 2022. Filing for a place on the ballot for the seat begins in November of 2021 with primary elections in March of 2022.