The Walton County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday appointed Anne Marie Warren to fill the District 1 seat vacated by her husband, Beau Warren, who died last week. The board voted to appoint her after a short discussion about whether to solicit additional input from residents in the district.

Chairman David G. Thompson introduced the appointment and said Beau Warren had asked that his wife be appointed to finish his term. Commissioners discussed precedent: recent appointments previously honored a departing commissioner’s stated wish and, in other cases, the board had solicited candidates. Several commissioners said they had spoken with Anne Marie Warren and that she expressed willingness to serve.

The motion to appoint Anne Marie Warren was moved, seconded and called for a vote. Commissioners voted in favor and the motion passed (appointment approved). The board chair then said staff would proceed with the formal appointment paperwork.

The discussion included members noting practice has varied on prior vacancies: one prior appointment followed a departing commissioner’s request; another was decided after a selection process. One commissioner suggested obtaining additional input from District 1 before finalizing an appointment; the motion approving Warren’s appointment advanced without a formal requirement to solicit extra public input.

The commission completed this agenda item before moving to planning and zoning business.