NEW COMMISSIONER APPOINTED Lincoln Comissioners Vote To Fill Ramey's Empty Seat
Reported by: Leslie Rubin
Videographer: Leslie Rubin
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Reported: Aug. 2, 2012 10:18 PM EDT
Updated: Aug. 2, 2012 10:29 PM EDT
Hamlin
, Lincoln County
, West Virginia
Lincoln County commissioners appoint a new member to fill a seat left empty because of an election fraud probe, and he's a new face to politics.
Thomas Ramey resigned last month and is scheduled for a plea hearing in federal court for his alleged role in the 2012 absentee ballot conspiracy.
On Thursday, after meeting in executive session, commission president Charles McCann and commissioner Charles Vance appointed Michael Browning of Harts to fill the seat.
They say Browning is an active community member, and is involved in youth sports and the church. They believe he's a good fit and step forward for the shaken commission.
Browning will serve until the November election is certified. He can also run in that election for Ramey's unexpired term, if the Democratic Executive Committee would nominate him to do so.
"You hear so much about how bad this county is, how bad the politics are, but we've got really good people who want really good things. We want to go to the polls, we want to vote, we want our vote to count. We don't want to have to worry about what power group is trying to be with this person or that person," said Vance.
"We just felt like we wanted somebody younger to get in there and inspire maybe to do more in their community and maybe one of these days do something on a permanent basis with the county commission," said McCann.
Browning was not at Thursday's meeting. McCann says Browning can decide to not fulfill the appointment.
As for Ramey, he's expected to plead guilty next week.
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Leslie Rubin
