Martin County voted for Central Time according to a helpful county employee. I couldn’t find news coverage or get an answer at the Martin County Commissioner’s office, so I called one of the other county offices (office withheld to protect a potentially innocent employee if I got this wrong) where I was advised that Martin County is going to ask for Central time.
Orange County is supposed to be voting this morning as well.
Update Here is the story on Martin County from the Washington Times Herald. As with most counties, the decision was 2 to 1.
Clearly uncomfortable with the decision, commissioners Mike Dant and John Collins made and seconded the motion to ask for the change because 18 residents who attended the earlier meetings preferred Central time, compared with 15 who wanted to stay with Eastern. Even after adding two more voice votes for Eastern time, expressed during the commissioners’ meeting, Central still came out on top, especially after adding 12 proxy votes that auditor Frances “Cookie†Taylor counted in the final tally. Only two proxy votes favored staying on Eastern time, she said.
Update #2 Orange County voted 2 to 1 against asking for central time. Benton County (PDF document) voted for Central Time back at the end of August. The link is to the Commissioner’s petition to USDOT.
My guess is that leaves us with a probably Perry County move to switch and possibly (but not likely) something happening in Fountain, Warren, and/or Benton.
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