Sunflower Supervisors on Monday appointed the widow of the late Ben Gaston to represent District 3 until a special election can be held next year.
The vote came after the board received a letter from Mrs. Sherry Gaston requesting the appointment.
The vote was unanimous to appoint Mrs. Gaston to fill the vacancy following Gaston’s sudden death on Nov. 23, just weeks after his re-election to that post.
Board Attorney Johnny McWilliams explained the process to the board and that the duty to fill the vacant seat fell solely on the four board members present.
McWilliams seemed to indicate that the current board, which will expire at the end of this month, could only vote to appoint a replacement for this term and could have to vote again as one of the first orders of business when the board starts its next term.
Nevertheless, the motion made by Board President Riley Rice and seconded by District 5 Supervisor Gloria Dickerson, made clear the board intends to have Mrs. Gaston fill the seat beyond this month.
She will hold the position until November 2024, the earliest date for a special election.
In making the move, the county board continued a long-standing tradition of offering a seat vacated by death of a supervisor to the surviving spouse.
