By JOHN THOMPSON
Staff Writer

The ongoing saga between Tyrone Mayor Richard Santiago and the town council took another turn Thursday night as the town council refused to appoint Santiago's choice as town attorney.

But the town may get an attorney soon, after Councilman Ronnie Cannon offered a possible compromise early this week. (See accompanying story.)

The town has been without an attorney since the end of June when the contract for John Mrosek was not renewed. Three members of the council want Mrosek reinstated, but Santiago made his feelings clear on any reappointment.

"You have a greater chance of getting a 10-inch snowfall now than seeing me recommend Mrosek," Santiago said.

Santiago delivered his harsh statement after the council refused to approve his latest choice, Brad Sears, for the position. Santiago said Sears and his law firm had represented the city of Newnan since the 1940s and would give Tyrone the type of representation it would need for its future growth.

The mayor asked the councilmen to only consider Sears professional qualifications in making their decision, but the council rejected the appointment with Councilmen Ray Bogenschutz, Lisa Richardson and Ronnie Cannon voting against appointing Sears.

When Bogenschutz said the town's charter called for Santiago to go on the recommendation of John Mrosek by the town's judge, Sharon Pierce, Santiago said he was not going to take the recommendation of a contractor.

"The judge is really a contractor. Our charter doesn't allow other contractors to appoint contractors," he said.

Councilman Ronnie Cannon said he was considering the qualifications of all the nominees and said he was also going on the recommendations of the judge and the city's staff. Cannon wondered if Santiago's decision-making power wasn't being clouded by another matter.

"You currently work for Councilman Stone. Is that affecting your hard line?" said Cannon.

Santiago fired back that he was only doing what was best for the town and Stone said the town needed to resolve the situation soon.

"We've been without an attorney for a month. We've had three qualified candidates. I don't know why anyone would want to throw their hat in the ring now," he said.

The mayor reiterated the charter gave him the power to appoint the town attorney, while the town council only had the power to approve or deny his recommendation and not offer their own appointee. He compared the situation to Atlanta, where the Atlanta City Council favored the sitting airport manager.

Mayor Bill Campbell made a different appointment for the post and the council begrudgingly went along with his appointment.

Santiago said he'll keep bringing recommendations until the council approves his selection.

The town currently has two lawsuits against it, but Town Manager Barry Amos said he believes the town's insurance through the state's municipal association will cover the town.

The battle over the town attorney is the latest in a divisive struggle that his pitted Santiago and Stone against the three other council members.