BERNIE PETITION DRIVE AIMS AT ELECTING CHIEF

BERNIE -- A petition drive is under way to change the way the Bernie police chief gets his job.

Freddie Smiley, who works for the city as a dog catcher, started the drive. Smiley said he wants the chief to be elected instead of appointed by the mayor with approval of the city council.

Smiley said that when he learned he could not conduct the drive because he is a city employee he turned it over to others.

Bernie Mayor R.B. Wood said the position used to be an elected one, but because of a bad experience it was changed to an appointed one about 15 to 20 years ago.