Commissioner resigns after 2 hours in office

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Blount County commissioner has resigned after two hours in office.

The Daily Times reports Shawn Carter Sr. said he was resigning after reading the federal Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from partisan political activity.

Carter is employed by the U.S. Postal Service.

He was sworn in during a 9 a.m. ceremony Wednesday at the Blount County Courthouse. He announced his resignation at about 11:20 a.m.

Carter was elected as a Republican but said he hopes he can be reappointed as an independent.

Newly elected commission chairman Kenneth Melton said a replacement would be appointed as soon as possible. That person would serve until the next county general election in 2012.