St. Clair County commissioners appoint Paul Zeller to fill District 5 vacancy after two-ballot vote

The St. Clair County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday appointed Paul Zeller to fill the District 5 vacancy, selecting him on the second ballot after a special meeting that narrowed a field of applicants to six finalists and held brief interviews. The board set the appointment to be effective Sept. 22.

The selection followed a process published by Chairperson Samasco that narrowed candidates by asking commissioners to nominate and second names from an applicant list, then advance nominees to an interview “shortlist.” Chairperson Samasco summarized the procedure: "If a person gets on what I call the shortlist, then they would be, interviewed." The board advanced six finalists for interviews: Anthony Farrell, Jamie Haslam, David LeDuc, Jared Shirkey, Robert Yussakowski and Paul Zeller.

The meeting included a public comment urging the board to include Democratic candidates in the interview stage. Jim Frank told commissioners, "the process to me seems to automatically exclude nearly 3 sevenths of the county's voters" and asked the board to "advance at least 1 of the Democratic candidates to the interview process." The board did briefly consider Dorothy Yeo (a registered Democrat) for the interview stage; that nomination did not receive sufficient support and she was not advanced.

Following the interviews, commissioners voted by secret ballot. The clerk reported first-round results as three votes for Zeller, two for Jared Shirkey and one for Anthony Farrell; no candidate achieved a majority, so the board held a second round. On the second ballot the clerk reported a 4–2 result in favor of Paul Zeller, giving him a majority and the appointment. The board recorded that the appointment would be effective Sept. 22 and explained the successful candidate may be sworn in at the clerk's office or in the commission chamber.

In his remarks during the interview, Zeller said he lives and works in the county, described his background in engineering and jail chaplaincy and stated his political stance: "I am socially and politically solidly supportive of the Republican platform. I favor limited government, conservative spending, support the second amendment," while also describing a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Commissioners who spoke during the nomination and interview process described different reasons for advancing particular candidates, citing community service, prior public-sector experience and local ties. Several commissioners emphasized they had spoken individually with many applicants before the meeting. The clerk confirmed ballots and the round-by-round vote counts will be part of the public record.

The board adjourned after the appointment. The clerk and chairperson said the administrative steps required to formalize the appointment — oath of office and signature of required forms — can be completed at the clerk’s office or in the commission room on Monday, Sept. 22.

Votes at a glance

- Final appointment (District 5 vacancy): Paul Zeller — 4 votes; Jared Shirkey — 2 votes (second ballot). Outcome: appointed; effective Sept. 22. - Shortlist advanced to interview (no final tally required in article): Anthony Farrell; Jamie Haslam; David LeDuc; Jared Shirkey; Robert Yussakowski; Paul Zeller.

What this means

The appointment fills the county commission seat left vacant and gives the appointed commissioner the authority to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term or until the next election, as governed by county rules and state law. Commissioners noted the seat will again be on the ballot at the next regular election, and some commissioners encouraged outreach by the newly appointed member to District 5 voters ahead of that election.