Development Authority nominating committee advances four candidates to fill board vacancy

The Development Authority of Floyd County’s nominating committee met Dec. 29, 2025, and discussed four candidates to replace outgoing board member Chris Twyman, who was appointed to the Georgia Bar Association. Chairman Ryan Earnest said the committee — consisting of Earnest, Ryan Leonard and Spencer Hogg — will present a slate to the full authority at its Jan. 20, 2026, meeting and that the Floyd County Commission will vote on the nominees at its Jan. 27 meeting.

Committee discussion named Evie McNiece, Kevin Evans, Luke Martin and Kenna Stock as potential nominees. Ryan Leonard disclosed that Evans is his father-in-law and said he would recuse himself from any official vote on that nominee; Earnest acknowledged Leonard’s recusal and emphasized the need to maintain staggered terms when filling the vacancy.

Earnest told the committee that any nominee must be a resident of Floyd County and complete the authority’s required training. He also noted that the term for the seat would run from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2029. The minutes record Earnest stressing staggered term lengths as a governance priority when replacing directors.

There was no formal vote on nominees at the Dec. 29 meeting. The committee closed routine business and adjourned after Spencer Hogg moved to adjourn and Ryan Leonard seconded; the minutes do not record a roll-call tally for that motion.

Next steps: the nominating committee will present its recommended slate to the Development Authority of Floyd County board on Jan. 20, 2026; the authority’s selected nominees will then be submitted to the Floyd County Commission for a Jan. 27 vote.