Commissioner vacancy declared

WORLAND – The Washakie County Commissioners officially declared the office vacant for the seat previously held by late Commissioner Dale Wagner.

Wagner, who was in the midst of his first four-year term as one of Washakie County’s three commissioners, died in Billings after a brief battle with cancer on May 22.

Commissioner Aaron Anderson said, “It is with regret that we declare a vacancy in Dale Wagner’s County Commissioner seat,” and gave insight to the vacancy process.

Since Wagner was elected as a Republican, it is the Washakie County Republican Central Committee’s (RCC) responsibility to give three names of interested candidates for the commissioners to appoint, and that individual will serve out the rest of Wagner’s term until the 2018 general election, Anderson said.

In their letter to the RCC the commissioner outlined their interviewing process for the three candidates.

There will be 15 minutes for the candidate to discuss their interest and reasoning for applying, 30 minutes for questioning from the commissioners and other elected officials and 15 minutes for public questioning.

Commissioner Terry Wolf said it should be noted that though it is public comment, other applicants will not be allowed in the room for the interviewing process so everyone has a fair chance.