Published: 1:48 PM, 08/19/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By: Melanie Marshall

The Boone town council is expected to appoint a new member Thursday to fill the vacancy left by Liz Aycock, who resigned in late June. Two applications were received for the position, which runs effective from the appointment to December 17.
Jamie S. Leigh, of Perkins Street, Boone, is a 17-year resident of Boone. She is a certified public account and owns a downtown business.
In a letter attached to her application, Leigh states, "I believe I can bring to the council a wealth of formal education coupled with years of practical financial experience in a variety of areas and firsthand knowledge of what is required for our small business community to grow and prosper."
Leigh has filed with the Watauga County Board of Elections for run for town council in the upcoming election on Nov. 3.
The second applicant is Hersey "Mack" Forehand III, of Arbor Lane, Boone. Forehand is an 11-year resident and currently serves as the director of the Tourism Development Authority for Boone.
In his application, Forehand says he is seeking the appointment as a means to serve his community and educate himself in the workings of a town government. "An interim appointment would help council avoid the appearance of favoring a candidate running in November," he adds. Forehand has not filed for election.
The council will make a decision and district court judge Gregory Horne will swear-in the new council member on Thursday. 

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