After an executive session held under state law to discuss appointment of a public officer, the Atoka City Council unanimously appointed Chris McDaniels to fill the Ward 2 vacancy created by the death of Councilperson Pat Turner.

The council first declared the seat vacant during regular business; a nomination was offered in open session and seconded. The motion to appoint McDaniels passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting yes. Councilors then nominated McDaniels to fill trustee positions formerly held by Turner on the Atoka Municipal Authority, the Atoka City Industrial Development Authority, the Atoka Industrial Facilities Authority and the Atoka City Airport Authority Trust; those trustee appointments likewise passed by roll call.

After the votes, the council administered the statutory oath of office to Chris McDaniels. The oath included commitments to support and defend the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions and to faithfully discharge duties as a city council member, and McDaniels completed the oath on the record.

Councilors offered brief remarks of welcome; the council also noted the vacancy arose following Turner’s passing. No contested applications or alternative candidates were recorded in the public transcript of the meeting.

The appointments were the formal actions required to fill the seat and the associated trustee roles; the council completed roll-call votes for each item and instructed McDaniels on next steps for attending to trustee matters and city business.