By Julie Johansen
Kent Wilson was chosen from a field of 12 to fill the Emery County Commission vacancy left by the recent resignation of Keith Brady. Wilson is a resident of Orangeville but his business, BK’s, is in Huntington. Wilson has sat on the Orangeville City Council for nearly four years as well as served the Castle Valley Special Service District and the Emery County Business Chamber, along with several other community leadership positions.
Starting with a mingle at 6 p.m. in the commission chambers, 12 applicants presented their desires and goals to the central committee and elected officials as well as county precinct chairmen and vice chairs. The crowd entered The Swell Room at 7 p.m. to hear speeches from each candidate.
Following the presentations of all applicants, each qualified voter was given a ballot and the first round of counting began. The count narrowed the field from 12 to eight while round two left four candidates. Round three narrowed the field to two and the final round chose the new commissioner.
Commissioners Paul Cowley and Lynn Sitterud have five days to ratify the chosen candidate and plan to install him at the commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
The 12 applicants for the position were Tracy Addley, Derek Beagley, Kirk Christiansen, Gil Conover, Jim Fauver, Tom Grimm, Delynn Fielding, Hilary Gordon, Randy Johnson, Russ Larsen, Les Wilberg and Kent Wilson. Travis Bacon had been a registered applicant but withdrew just prior to the evening’s process to retain his position on the Green River City Council.