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COUNTY COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT <br />Position: <br />Washington County supports legislation that would allow, but not require, the county board to appoint an <br />interim county commissioner to serve until a special election can be held and a replacement elected. <br />Issue: <br />Under current law, when a vacancy occurs on the county board and there is more than one year remaining <br />on the unexpired term the county board must call for a special election and may not appoint an interim <br />commissioner. The statutory restrictions in scheduling a special election create the possibility for vacancies <br />on the county board of up to ten months in length. These vacancies leave large populations unrepresented <br />and place additional burdens on the remaining commissioners. <br />This legislative change would allow a county board to appoint an individual to serve as commissioner <br />between the period when the vacancy is declared and when an individual is elected at a special election to <br />fill the unexpired term. If only a short time exists between when the vacancy is created and the special <br />election, the county board would be unlikely to appoint a replacement. However, if a longer time period <br />exists, the county board may determine that representation of those county residents would be best served <br />by appointing an interim commissioner until a successor could be elected. <br />Support and Opposition: <br />Because this legislative change would not modify the requirement to hold a special election and it is in rare <br />cases where this appointment option would be utilized, little to no opposition is anticipated. Support may <br />come from other counties that have operated at fewer than the normal number of elected officials because <br />of a vacancy prior to the election of a successor. <br />Previous Consideration: <br />Legislation introduced during the 901h Legislature (2017-2018) authorizing the appointment of an interim <br />county commissioner had numerous authors from the Washington County legislative delegation and has <br />been a legislative priority of the County Board for the last three years. This legislation was heard in both the <br />House and Senate and was included in the 2017 House Omnibus Election Bill but was not included in the final <br />version of the bill. <br />No Action: <br />If no action is taken unfilled vacancies will leave a portion of the county population unrepresented and <br />unreasonably burden existing commissioners. <br />Financial Implications: <br />Opportunities for county attendance at various boards and committees may be missed leaving the county <br />unrepresented in decisions of financial and operational importance to our residents. <br />Contact Persons: <br />Kevin Corbid, Deputy Administrator Jennifer Wagenius, Director <br />Washington County Office of Administration Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services <br />651-430-6003 651-430-6182 <br />kevin.corbid@co.washington.mn.us jennifer.wagenius@co.washington.mn.us <br />27 <br />