By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Polk County Republican Party Executive Committee is scheduled to nominate a new county commissioner next week.

Republican party chairman Ted Owens has called the executive committee meeting for Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Republican Headquarters in Columbus.

The nomination from the executive committee will be presented to the county board of commissioners to fill a vacancy left after the sudden death of Polk chairman Tom Pack, a Republican, who died after suffering injuries from a fall on Feb. 26.

Whoever is appointed to the board of commissioners will serve out Pack’s term, which ends in December 2016, after new commissioners following the Nov. 8 election are sworn into office. Pack served as commissioner from 2008-2010 and 2012-2016. He did not seek re-election this year.

All Republican Party executive members are being asked to attend Tuesday’s meeting to vote on the nomination.