With the new home rule charter now in effect, County Administrator Mark McCauley has assumed his role as acting county manager under an agreement approved in late December by the Board of County Commissioners.
The county’s charter was approved by voters in November 2014. It expands the current three member commission to a five member council. The charter went into effect Jan. 1, but the new council members won’t start until January 2016.
Sitting commissioners (now council members) Tom Mielke and David Madore will each fulfill their current terms, which expire at the end of 2016, while Jeanne Stewart’s, who was elected in November 2014, expires Dec. 31, 2018.
The two new seats, both three-year terms, will be part of the 2015 primary and general elections. One council member — the chairperson — will be elected countywide, while the second will be elected from District 2.
McCauley will handle duties assigned to the acting county manager until the county council is seated and can act on the appointment early in 2016.