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Trussville County Commission appoints Linda Bruce to fill District 3 vacancy
Summary
The Trussville County Commission voted to appoint Linda Bruce to the District 3 seat after a two-round roll-call vote Friday night. Bruce beat John Scott in a runoff, 15–2, with one abstention.
The Trussville County Commission on Friday appointed Linda Bruce to fill the District 3 vacancy created by a recent resignation.
Bruce, a former county commissioner who said she represented District 5 from February 2014 to February 2021, won a runoff election after the commission narrowed four applicants to two. In the final roll-call vote Bruce received 15 votes, John Scott received 2, and one commissioner recorded an abstention; the tally exceeded the majority threshold required to fill the seat.
The commission opened the meeting to candidates after staff certified that voters had been given an opportunity to submit names. County counsel reviewed the statutory process for filling a county legislative vacancy and the body voted to proceed with consideration the same night rather than postpone to a later meeting. Commissioners first nominated and voted on four candidates; Bruce and Scott were the top two vote-getters and advanced to a runoff. Bruce told the commission she had previously served as a commissioner and had recently returned to the district after caring for a family member.
The commission conducted the final selection by roll call. After the clerk announced the totals, Chair Lonnie Taylor congratulated Bruce and the commission welcomed her willingness to serve for the remainder of the term. The commission did not set, on the record, a swearing-in date during the meeting.
The appointment completes the commission's immediate obligation under state vacancy rules; county counsel reminded members that the county had up to 120 days from notice of vacancy to fill the seat, and that the names presented at the meeting had been vetted by the county office.
Bruce's appointment shifts the commission's membership; commissioners who asked procedural questions during the process pressed for clarity on nomination rules and the method the body used to reach a decision.
No formal policy change or spending commitment accompanied the appointment; Bruce will assume committee assignments and commission duties as determined at a later time.
