Deadline looming, Front Royal Council names Gary L. Gillispie to fill vacant seat

This seat will no longer be empty, after the Front Royal Town Council voted 4-0 Monday to appoint Gary L. Gillispie. File Photo/Roger Bianchini

In a special meeting Monday night, the Front Royal Town Council named lifelong resident Gary L. Gillispie, 45, to fill the fill the vacancy on the panel created when Councilwoman Bébhinn Egger resigned July 1 to get married and move out of state. Ms. Egger was elected in November 2014; the term will expire Dec. 31, 2018.

The council interviewed eight applicants in two closed sessions in July, before holding a third closed session prior to its last regular meeting on July 24 to review candidate and discuss options to fill the seat. No decision was made at that meeting. Instead, John Connolly made a motion to delay a vote to fill the seat.

A special meeting was necessary Monday, to meet the deadline for filling the seat. Following a motion by John Connolly, and seconded by William Sealock, the council went into closed session to discuss the appointment of a candidate to the seat. After about 20 minutes, the meeting reconvened, whereby John Connolly immediately made a motion to appoint Gillispie to the seat, which was seconded by Sealock, and passed 4-0. Eugene Tewalt was absent from the meeting.

Gary Gillispie, Front Royal Town Council’s newest member./ Courtesy photo

Mr. Gillispie, a Loudoun County plans examiner in the Building and Development department, says he had already decided to run for office in 2018, so it made sense to apply for the vacancy when it was announced. He said that he’s keenly interested in the town government and believes he has something of value to contribute.

Gillispie and his wife, Allyson, live in Front Royal with their 12-year-old son, who will attend Skyline Middle School this year. They attend Dynamic Life Church in Front Royal. Gillispie says in his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and volunteering as an umpire for Front Royal Little League.