Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said he was disappointed that the Republican members of the Rutherford County Election Commission may cost taxpayers more than $32,000 for trying to fire the current election administrator.

A federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of Rutherford County Election Administrator Hooper Penuel and several other county election administrators in Tennessee contending Republicans violated their constitutional rights by conspiring to treat their jobs as political patronage.

“Hard-earned tax dollars could have been put to better use,” Forrester said. “There is no excuse for what they did. Mr. Penuel did an excellent job as the election administrator. They had no business trying to fire him just because they believed him to be a Democrat. That is taking partisan politics too far.

“At a time when our communities and our state face serious financial challenges, why would you jeopardize precious resources to cover an illegal act by a partisan board? We need to focus our energy on creating more jobs, improving our schools and keeping our communities safe.”

Penuel agreed to end his participation in the federal suit if the commission would pay him $7,500 to cover his attorney and litigation fees, which the election commission accepted Monday afternoon. Republicans hold a 3-2 majority on the election commission. Penuel asserted in the suit that the commission’s Republican members informed him that he would be replaced because of his perceived political affiliation.

Penuel also agreed to retire from his position as election administrator no later than Dec. 31 of this year. The election commission decided by a three-to-two vote to use another $25,000 to cover legal fees incurred by the board in defense of the suit, according to press accounts of the meeting.

A temporary restraining order was issued last year stopping the Rutherford County Election Commission’s efforts to replace Penuel after the state’s attorney general opined that state and federal laws prohibit the firing of an employee based on political affiliation unless that employee is in a policy-making position. Penuel has asserted he is not in a policy-making position.

Republicans gained control of the state Legislature in November 2008 and now control local election commissions in all 95 counties.

“You would think that someone who has the wealth of experience and knowledge of the election process that Mr. Penuel has would be a commodity,” Forrester said. “This kind of display of raw political patronage is not only damaging our political process, but it is also putting our communities in a financial bind. No wonder we have so many people disillusioned with the political process.”