Three names selected to fill Charlie Kulbeck's vacated commission seat
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Members of the Blaine County Democratic Committee, shown in photo, met Monday night in Harlem and selected three names. From the three names current Commissioners DePriest and Plumage will select a person to fill the six month unexpired term of Commissioner Charlie Kulbeck, representing District 3, who resigned effective July 1. After a secret ballot the central committee submitted the names of Kim Hanson, Tom Fairbank and Bill Taylor. The two current commissioners plan to make their choice and have the vacated seat filled by July 1.
The Blaine County Democratic Central Committee met Monday night (June 18) and selected three names that will go to the County Commissioners. From those three names the two incumbent commissioners will pick a person to fill the unexpired term of Charlie Kulbeck. Kulbeck, representing District 3, resigned effective July 1. The person selected by the commissioners will serve Kulbeck's unexpired term-a six month stretch running from July 1 to January 1, 2019. At the end of that period a commissioner elected in the upcoming general election will take the seat for a six year term.
Veteran Democratic politico Greg Jergeson reviewed the process for selecting a person to take an incumbent's vacated seat. He said, "A couple of weeks ago the Democratic Central Committee was notified by Blaine County Commission Chairman Frank DePriest that commissioner Kulbeck had turned in his resignation. Commissioner DePriest asked that the central committee submit three names, per state law, as quickly as possible so a new commissioner can be installed by July 1." The central committee has 30 days to choose the names but felt it was important to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible." The Monday meeting was scheduled with a proper notice posted in the newspaper and was open to the public.
Four residents of the district put their names forward, and explained their position. Members of the central committee secretly marked their choices. Sandi Boardman and Tammy Williams were asked to count the votes. The three names submitted to the commissioners are: Kim Hansen; Tom Fairbank and Bill Taylor.
Commission Chairman Frank DePriest and Commissioner Dolores Plumage were both in attendance at the meeting. DePriest told the central committee, "We came to hear the candidates. This will speed up the process because we've heard their qualifications and concerns."
The two commissioners agreed they would make their choice by Friday, June 22. DePriest said, "We want to get the new commissioner on board before July 1. We will be getting with Judge Laird to swear in the new commissioner we select." He was confident all this could be accomplished before July 1.
