A SULLIVAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES OPERATIONS MANAGER HAS BEEN FORCED TO TAKE TIME OFF WITH VACATION PAY AFTER MAKING REMARKS AGAINST TENNESSEE GOVERNOR PHIL BREDESEN. MARK VANCE, WHO’S A SULLIVAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER AS WELL, WAS ONE OF FIVE COUNTY EMS OFFICIALS FROM THIS AREA WHO HELD AN AUGUST 29TH PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT STATE BUDGET CUTS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES. SULLIVAN COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR GARY MAYES SAID VANCE WAS SUSPENDED AS A RESULT OF WHAT WAS SAID AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE. VANCE CHOSE TO TAKE TWO WEEKS VACATION IN PLACE OF THE SUSPENSION, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT PAY. VANCE WILL RETURN TO WORK ON MONDAY.