By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Feb. 22, 2001
Meridian Fire Chief Bunky Partridge says he's staying in Meridian, and the mayor agrees.
Mayor John Robert Smith said Wednesday Partridge would not be leaving Meridian for a similar position in Hattiesburg.
Some reports circulating for the past two weeks had Partridge resigning his post in Meridian to take over as fire chief of Hattiesburg. City officials in Hattiesburg confirmed the search is one for a new fire chief, but they have not offered the job to Partridge and, in fact, have yet to conduct any interviews.
Partridge told The Meridian Star last week that the rumors of his leaving were not true.
Smith said the news that Partridge's name had surfaced as candidate for the job was not surprising.
Smith said Partridge's situation was one many department heads could find themselves in regarding state law about ongoing employment and their state retirement package.
According to Smith, he is sympathetic with the plight those city employees all across the state are facing and he disagrees with the law.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.