By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
LANDIS ó The Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to appoint Roger Safrit to fill the seat vacated by alderman Dean Beck nearly three weeks ago.
Safrit was only five votes behind Beck in the November election.
Mayor Dennis Brown proposed three options during the Thursday meeting: appoint the next highest vote-getter, take applications and conduct interviews, or have an election.
Aldermen quickly dismissed the last option, since holding another election would cost $1,500.
Alderman Tony Hilton made the motion to appoint Safrit.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Alderman James Furr.
When he resigned, Beck cited a desire to focus on his duties as a Landis police officer and to deal with a family member’s health issues.
In a phone interview, Safrit said he hated that Beck had to step down.
“I think he could’ve done a good service to the town,” he said.
Safrit said he felt he and the board could get a lot of work accomplished.
“Like I said during my campaign, I’m there for the people and the town of Landis, period,” he said.
Safrit, who takes office in April, said he is overwhelmed with the board’s confidence in him. “I’ll do my best to work with them.”