It took the Liberty County commissioners several months to fill the last vacancy on the Liberty County Development Authority and now they are faced with another one.

Willa Lewis was named to the LCDA in December to replace Graylan Quarterman whose term expired. At the January meeting the commissioners are scheduled to discuss the vacancy left by Matthew Barrow who has moved out of state.

The usual procedure in these cases is for the commissioners to advertise in the Coastal Courier for citizens interested in board appointments. Applications are reviewed by a rotating screening committee of three commissioners and the screening committee gives the list of suitable applicants to the full commission for selection.

Lewis is employed by The Heritage Bank and lives in Midway.

A logjam occurred at the commission’s December meeting when members could not agree on an appointment to the LCDA. Maxcy Jones was nominated but lost in a 4-3 vote. 

Joe Ford was nominated but lost in another 4-3 split vote. 

Commissioner Connie Thrift then nominated Graylan Quarterman, the incumbent who had asked to be reappointed, but that measure lost 5-2. 

Having rejected all the applicants, the commission decided to advertise the vacancy again. That second notice produced the application from Lewis; she was appointed unanimously.