The Executive Board of the Park County Republican Party, acting as the Vacancy Committee, met to consider several candidates who expressed an interest in filling in for the late Doc McKay as County Commissioner for District 3. The person who fills in will serve in that position until the November 2008 election.

The last appointment of this nature that was made occurred in 2006 when former District 3 Commissioner Jim Gardner passed away. In each event, the Executive Board has only 10 days to consider possible replacements, choose one, and arrange for them to be sworn in before the power to appoint falls to the governor of the state.

After completing their work this week, the Board chose to appoint the same person who filled in when Gardner passed away. Lillian Wissel has the experience of years of county work and involvement as well as prior service as commissioner in 2006. Both Gardner and McKay suffered long illnesses during their time in office. District 3 citizens have indicated that they now need a strong person to step in quickly and take up the work for their interests as effectively as Gardner and McKay represented them while they were on the job. The vacancy committee thought that Wissel was best prepared to do that.

Commissioner Wissel was sworn in on Friday, May 16, 2008 by County Clerk and Recorder Debra Green and begins immediately serving the citizens of District 3 and the entire county at large.

Wissel was also selected by the Vacancy Committee to run for the office in this year's election as the Republican Party's candidate. Her name will appear on the August primary ballot along with others who have expressed an interest in trying to win a spot on the ballot by petition. This year, Park County voters will be choosing commissioners for all three districts at once.