The first meeting of the new Chatham County Commission got off to a contentious start Friday.
Commissioner Dean Kicklighter voted against Commissioner Helen Stone's nomination as chairman pro-tem. Kicklighter said Stone had voiced support behind closed doors prior to voting against a salary increase for commissioners at their last meeting.
"Commissioner Stone has to earn my trust back," Kicklighter said.
Stone insisted that her position on the raises has been consistent. She said she always felt the commission should receive a raise, but disagreed with the amount that had been proposed.
That prompted Commissioner Priscilla Thomas to back Kicklighter's claim.
"At the final stage, you did support it," Thomas said, although she ended up voting in support of Stone's nomination.
Kicklighter was the lone dissenting vote.