Ashland County Board elects Gary Murdick chair, names Clarence Campbell vice chair and fills committee seats

The Ashland County Board of Supervisors completed its annual organizational business, electing Gary Murdick as chair and Clarence Campbell as vice chair and filling multiple committee seats during a full-day organizational meeting.

Supervisor Brad Ray moved to approve the meeting agenda; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board then took up adoption of rules of order. After a supervisor noted the county board handbook supplies order rules, the board amended a motion to adopt the county board handbook as the governing document supplemented by Robert's Rules of Order; the amendment was accepted and the motion carried.

The board appointed Sue and Michelle to serve as tellers for ballots and nominations. Nominations and balloting followed for leadership and standing committees. Clarence Campbell moved to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Gary Murdick as chair; members voiced their approval and Murdick was elected by unanimous consent. Clarence Campbell was also approved as vice chair by unanimous voice vote.

The board then filled the executive committee and standing committees. Ballot tallies announced by tellers for the executive committee were: Campbell 17, William Messinger 15, Ray 10, Sutterholm 11, Hoofall 6; the clerk identified the successful slate from those tallies.

Highway committee nominations spanned city, north, central and south districts and an at-large seat. For the South District (18–21) initial balloting produced a 10–10 tie between Jim Schultz and Gary Adler. Board members discussed tie-breaking procedures under their rules, permitted brief remarks from the candidates, and conducted a revote; the clerk announced a subsequent count of Schultz 10, Adler 9 after one ballot was rejected for failing to be initialed. The at-large seat vote and other district ballots were tallied and winners confirmed; members congratulated the newly selected committee members.

Administratively appointed rosters to the Health and Human Services and Planning committees were reviewed. Supervisor Terry Van Buren asked to be added to the planning roster; the board approved the updated list. The board also approved the county appointments to the Ashland–Bayfield Joint Dispatch Commission under the existing intercounty agreement.

The board approved the minutes of the March 24, 2026 meeting by voice vote.

The meeting closed after brief supervisor reports and orientation reminders to new members.

What happens next: committees begin meeting under the new rosters; the board will address any outstanding items at future meetings.