A Rock Island woman may fill a vacancy on the county board. Friday board chair Ken Maranda nominated Edna Sowards to represent District 15.
The district was represented by Nick Camlin but he resigned in May after he was appointed chief deputy county clerk. Since he is a democrat, state law requires replacing him with a democrat.
Maranda says he and county democratic chairman Doug House interviewed four people for the job, and decided Sowards is the most qualified. He also wanted to promote diversity by appointing another woman - currently there are just four on the 25-member county board.
She is a retired nurse and volunteers for the Rock Island Police Benevolent Association and the motorcycle organization A.B.A.T.E.
Sowards has also promised to run for a full four-year team next year.
The county board will consider Sowards' appointment on June 20th.
