Paul Winfield, left, watches as the Warren County Board of Supervisors conducts business Tuesday morning. Winfield is replacing Randy Sherard as the board’s attorney. (BRIAN LODEN The Vicksburg Post)

[1/5/05]The Warren County Board of Supervisors began the year with multiple votes leading to a new board attorney and a decision to compensate him at the same rate and in the same way as the board counsel for the past 13 years.

Paul Winfield, 31, of the Vicksburg law firm of Winfield and Moran succeeds Randy Sherard, 59, as board counsel, saying he also will continue as the attorney for the City of Port Gibson.

“I would like to say that I am both honored and appreciative to the board for this appointment,” Winfield said after a series of nominations and votes led to the offer. “We look forward to providing quality legal representation to both the board and the citizens of Warren County.”

Sherard provided a written statement. “It is unfortunate that those elected to public office sometimes forget they are elected to serve the citizens of Warren County,” it said. “It is apparent that personal agendas, rather than service to the public, have played a major role in the decision-making process regarding the selection of the board attorney today.”

District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon and District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield, who supported Winfield for the job, are expected to be candidates for mayor and North Ward alderman in Vicksburg elections in the spring. They also voted against retaining Sherard in January 2004, but this year were joined by District 4 Supervisor Carl Flanders to provide a 3-2 majority.

“Of course, I’m disappointed,” said District 1 Supervisor David McDonald, who was unanimously elected board president at the same meeting. “I think we should have kept Randy with his 13 years’ experience. With Rick Polk leaving with 21 years’ experience, you don’t get rid of your two key employees at the same time if you can help it.” Polk, county administrator, is retiring this month.

McDonald also said replacing Sherard, who has done a good job and been loyal to county interests, sends the wrong message to other county employees.

At the meeting, Winfield was first nominated by Mayfield with Selmon seconding. McDonald, Flanders and District 5 Supervisor Richard George voted no on that motion.

George then nominated Sherard with McDonald offering the second. That nomination was defeated with George and McDonald voting yes.

Flanders then nominated the Teller, Chaney, Hassell and Hopson firm, but got no second.

George again offered a nomination for Sherard, but Mayfield offered a substitute motion to nominate Winfield, which was seconded by Flanders. The 3-2 vote followed.

After adjournment, a meeting was held to determine Winfield’s compensation. Part of the controversy over Sherard’s appointment as board attorney arose early in 2004 when Flanders objected to the contract between the county and Sherard. The agreement called for Sherard to be paid a retainer of $1 a year for normal attorney’s duties such as attending board meetings and offering routine legal advice. He then billed the county a per hour fee for other work such as drawing up contracts, negotiating land purchases and easements and similar work.

Flanders pointed to a state law saying supervisors could employ a counsel who would be a county employee and paid the same as a board member, $37,343.04 here. An attorney general’s opinion he sought ratified that interpretation.

Flanders, who initiated talk of replacing Sherard last fall, said Tuesday he was upset to learn Winfield will be paid under arrangement.

“There is no way I can support this with my vote,” Flanders said.

In dollar terms, until 2004, Sherard was paid $100 per hour and his last yearly pay at that rate was $54,000 in 2003. After his raise to $125 for 2004, newly available figures show he was actually paid less $53,255 for the year just-ended.

The board planned to meet this morning to affirm that Winfield will be paid a $1 year retainer and $125 per hour for his work.

Winfield said he has no plans to discontinue his employment in Port Gibson. “As long as they will have me,” he said, is how long he plans to keep his job as Port Gibson attorney.

The Port Gibson Board of Mayor and Aldermen meet on some of the same days as the Warren County Board of Supervisors, but at different times. Port Gibson officials said no one was available today to discuss Winfield’s post.