Gasperson stays as chairman; McDermott remains vice-chair

Ray Gasperson will retain his leadership position as chairman of the Polk County Board of Commissioners for the second year in a row.

Commissioners also voted to retain Renée McDermott as vice-chair.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners approved the chair and vice-chair decisions Monday, Dec. 5 by a 3-1 vote. Commissioners Gasperson, McDermott and Cindy Walker voted in favor of keeping the same chair and vice for the second year and commissioner Ted Owens voted against. Owens nominated commissioner Tom Pack for both positions. Pack was absent because he was out of town on business.

It is customary during the first meeting every December to appoint the chair and vice-chair of the board.

McDermott nominated Gasperson to retain the chair, saying she thinks he’s served extremely well, taken the position very seriously and spent many hours working on county issues.

Gasperson nominated McDermott to retain vice-chair, saying he has been impressed with how thoroughly McDermott researches every issue and has frank, honest discussions without letting personalities get in the way.

Gasperson and McDermott will serve as chair and vice-chair until a new board is elected and sworn in during the December meeting of 2012 following next year’s election. Commissioners McDermott, Pack and Walker will be up for re-election next year. The candidate filing period will begin at noon on Feb. 13, 2012 and end on Feb. 29.