During the public-comment portion of the Dec. 13 meeting, Dr. Brian Jack Holder of Townes Bluffs read a letter to the vacancy committee asking the county to hold a special election rather than fill a board vacancy by appointment.

Holder said public comment had not been allowed at a recent vacancy-committee meeting and argued that the county's 93,677 residents and 60,303 registered voters deserve the chance to elect a replacement. "Filling the vacancy by appointment is a legal minefield," he said, urging the committee to "embrace the democratic process and reverse your decision to fill the vacancy by appointment." Holder also offered to submit his name to the appointment list and said he would reject salary and benefits if appointed.

Board members did not take action on the request during the meeting; Holder's remarks were recorded as public comment and there was no formal response from the vacancy committee in the meeting transcript.