We're confident that Brooke County Commissioners Norma Tarr and Marty Bartz made the right decision Tuesday when they selected Tim Ennis to fill the empty seat on the three-person board.
Ennis will replace Bernie Kazienko on the panel. Kazienko, a longtime public servant in Brooke County, died on Dec. 5.
Ennis brings a wealth of experience to the job. He is in his ninth term as a delegate representing West Virginia's 2nd District, which includes Brooke County and a portion of Ohio County. That experience gained while working in Charleston will be an asset as he turns his attention closer to home. In fact, it was his experience in securing state money for infrastructure improvements and economic development that helped convince Tarr he was the right person for the job.
How long Ennis will hold the seat remains a question. State law requires voters elect a person to fill the five years of Kazienko's unexpired term. Ennis, who said he will resign from the House of Delegates, has indicated he will be a candidate to fill the remainder of the term in the May 8 primary. Voters will make the final decision in the Nov. 6 general election.
While we were saddened by the death of Kazienko, we are impressed that there were 17 applicants for the vacancy. That shows area residents are concerned about the future of their county, and we hope those who were not selected will continue to be involved.
As with any selection process, there were some difficult decisions that needed to be made, and disagreements about how best to fill the spot. Thankfully, Tarr and Bartz were able to put the concerns of the residents of Brooke County first and make a good decision.
With that, we welcome Ennis as Brooke County's newest commissioner.
