By RACHEL C. DOVE

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON - A unanimous vote by the Mingo County Board of Education President William “Bill” Duty and three board members - Jacqueline Branch, Mike Carter and Stephen “Cheetah” Marcum - made it clear who their choice was to fill the vacancy left following the resignation of Charles “Butch” West.

On Thursday morning, board members met to conduct interviews with the two men who had filed for the vacant board seat, prior to casting their votes.

The candidates, Orville Messer, of Kermit, and Leslie Hobbs, of Breeden, were each provided the opportunity to answer several questions asked by the members, including what was the determining factor that motivated them to run for office.

After careful deliberation, votes were cast, and Messer was declared the winner.

Messer said that he has a large, extended family in Mingo County, and cares deeply about the school system in which they receive their education.

“Of course, one main concern is how to return our school board back under the county’s control,” said Messer. “I think we also have to step our system up a notch in order to compete on an equal level with other counties.”

Hobbs said that one of his main concerns was the number of students leaving Mingo County to go to Pike County, Ky., or a private school.

“I get approached on a daily basis about the problems with bullying in our schools. According to our policies in place, we have a ‘zero tolerance’ for this type of behavior, but I don’t see those rules being enforced,” said Hobbs.

“We have to show that Mingo County is the best.”

Messer told the board members that he didn’t expect to know the ins and outs of how everything with the board operates, but that he was ready to step in and work diligently with all of them to resolve issues and address concerns. He said that he was fine with whatever choice the members made between he and Hobbs, and said there would be no hard feelings either way.

Board President Duty said that he saw before him two gentlemen with a keen interest in serving the public, and wished them both luck in the upcoming primary election.

The process for exactly how the school board election would play out in May’s primary was front and center during Tuesday’s meeting, with Prosecuting Attorney C. Michael Sparks explaining the rules as he understood them and had been instructed, and Hobbs; voicing that information relayed to him stated something very different.

Sparks said that the two candidates who had marked on the registration form when they filed for office, that their intentions were to compete for the unexpired term vacated by West, and not a four-year seat would be the only candidates in the running for this slot.

The prosecutor said this board position would be filled by the candidate that received the most votes between the two men in the primary, and would not be affected by the outcome of the November election.

Hobbs disagreed.

“I spoke with the Secretary of State’s office and was told that the two top candidates in the November election would fill the four year seats, and the third place winner would assume the two year slot,” said Hobbs.

Sparks assured board members he would consult with both the Secretary of State’s office and the Attorney General’s office to further investigate the rules that apply for an election associated with an unexpired term, and would relay his findings to them in a timely manner.

When asked how he felt about being the candidate chosen to fill the open seat until the end of June, pending the outcome of the May primary, Messer replied that it was an honor and a privilege.

“I’m very pleased that the board trusted me to serve with them, and I will always give them 100 percent,” said Messer. “Being responsible for the education of the children of Mingo County is not an easy task, but it is one that I look very forward to.”

Messer was administered the oath of office following the adjournment of the meeting. His duties as a board member for Mingo County are effective immediately.