Boone County board appoints David Cordray to fill District 1 vacancy after procedural objections

David Cordray was appointed Thursday to fill the vacant Boone County Board District 1 seat, and he took the oath of office before the board.

The appointment vote followed a period of debate about whether the selection process followed customary procedure. County Board members raised questions about how the candidate was chosen, including whether the county board chairman consulted party leaders before announcing the pick. County Board member Marion Thornberry said he had “no objection to appointing him” but objected to the process, adding, “it doesn't follow legislative procedure.”

The board approved the appointment by voice vote; the chair announced that there were three abstentions and the motion carried. After the vote, Cordray repeated the oath, stating, “I, David Cordray, having been appointed to the Boone County Board District 1 ... I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Boone County Board District 1 to the best of my ability.”

Members who spoke in favor said Cordray’s construction and project-management background could help with ongoing county infrastructure work. Several members said they had received phone calls or emails about the appointment; others said they had not been contacted in advance and wanted a more open vetting process for future vacancies. The county's state's attorney later confirmed to the chair that the statutory procedure cited by proponents had been followed.

The board administered Cordray’s oath immediately after the vote and welcomed him to the board. No formal follow-up direction or additional committee assignment was recorded during the meeting.

The appointment and subsequent comments underscored differing expectations among board members about how interim vacancies should be publicized and filled.