Morgan County Democratic Party Chairman Patsy Harris resigned her seat on the Board of Elections and Registration (BER) last Friday, effective immediately.

Harris notified the Chairman of the BER and the county manager of her decision via letter.

“I’ve resigned for personal reasons,� said Harris in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “There is no political problem…there is nothing wrong with the way in which the BER is structured.�

Harris says that she is very supportive of the BER system, which is new to Morgan County this year. Up until January 1, 2007, the county probate judge acted as Superintendent of Elections, and had the responsibility of running elections from that office. As of this year, a five-member board has assumed the job of setting up and handling elections in the county, and handled its first set of local elections and a run-off earlier this summer.

The members of the BER are appointed.Â

The Democratic and Republican parties of Morgan County appoint two members each, and one member is appointed by the Board of Commissioners.

“We thank Patsy for her service,� said County Manager Michael Lamar. “It’s unfortunate that she felt she had to resign.�

Harris will have a direct hand in choosing her replacement, as she is the current head of the county’s Democratic party.

“A new member [of the BER] will be chosen by a vote of the executive board of the Democratic Party of Morgan County,� said Harris. “That will happen within two weeks.�

The new member of the BER is expected to be in place by the time the group meets again on September 4.