The Lane County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday elected David Lowall as board chair and Commissioner Seneca as vice chair during its first regular meeting of 2025.

The full board gathered in Harris Hall on Jan. 7 to choose leadership for the year. After nominations and a second, the board voted to elect David Lowall to the chair position. The motion carried 3-2. The board then opened nominations for vice chair and voted to select Commissioner Seneca; that vote passed unanimously.

The nominations process included public comments by commissioners on the traits they value in a chair. Commissioner Buck praised the qualities she said make a strong chair: “somebody with a calm demeanor, somebody who understands Robert’s Rules of Order, knows to speak last, after everybody’s had a chance to speak, treats our presenters and staff with the highest amount of respect.” Commissioner Buck also nominated Commissioner Seneca initially; that nomination did not receive a second and therefore did not advance. Commissioner Seneca later nominated the then-vice chair to be chair, a nomination that was seconded and then voted on.

After the votes the newly elected chair, David Lowall, conducted the remainder of the meeting, including opening nominations for vice chair and overseeing routine business.

The leadership elections were taken as individual motions on the floor during the public meeting and are reflected in the official vote tallies recorded in the meeting minutes. No additional policy changes or appointments were tied to the leadership votes at the time of election.

Looking ahead, the chair and vice chair will hold the duties assigned to those offices under the board’s rules at times when the board convenes for full meetings and special sessions.