Meriwether Probate Court Nepotism

Meriwether County Probate Judge John Rasnick was re-elected in May 2024 to serve as the Meriwether County Probate Judge. He ran against Kenyatta Bell. According to the Official and Complete Summary released on the Meriwether County website, Judge Rasnick won with 72.95%. Whereas Kenyatta Bell had 27.05% of the votes.

It appears that on November 22, 2024, Shannon Neely posted on her Facebook page that she was appointed as the Associate Probate Judge. A position created by the Meriwether County Commissioners on October 7, 2024. Approximately 5 months pass since the election and a new position was created.

Appointed Associate Judge Shannon Neely posted that she never thought this would happen. She reported that she started back in April 2022. We could not find any law training or law degree that Shannon possesses. While this would not disqualify one from serving in a Probate Judge position in Meriwether County.

Opponent Kenyatta Bell made attempts to apply for the position. We could not find where this position was ever publicly posted.

Beth Neely the mother of Shannon Neely, a previous Meriwether County Commissioner and married to County Chief Deputy Byron Hadley with Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office.

Why was an entirely new position created when the county’s finances couldn’t afford to fix the county jail. What is going to happen to the Associate Judge Position when John Rasnick retires or resigns? Could this have been an attempt to prevent an African American woman from serving as the Meriwether County Probate Judge.

It is our opinion that this position was created to circumvent Shannon Neely running in an election and to secure her seat as the Probate Judge for this term. It appears this is nepotism at its finest.