Split council selects Republican activist to serve as interim mayor

Will it be a kinder, gentler, less partisan, less County-tilting – come on, admit it, just a bit Mr. former supervisor – Matt Tederick taking the helm of town government until a special election is held to let town citizens vote on who should fill out the final year of Hollis Tharpe’s term?

Tune in, in 5-1/2 months for the verdict following a divided Front Royal Town Council’s 4-2 vote, Tewalt and Thompson dissenting, to appoint the long-time Warren County Republican Committee activist and chairman as interim mayor on Tuesday night.

Gary Gillespie made the motion, seconded by Chris Holloway to appoint Tederick after Letasha Thompson’s motion to appoint Al Larsen failed to achieve a second.

Eugene Tewalt’s amendment to Gillespie’s motion to send the matter to the circuit court for a judicial appointment then failed by the same 4-2 margin by which Tederick gained the appointment.

Vice Mayor Bill Sealock with Gillespie, Holloway and Jacob Meza to form the decisive 4-2 majority.

See the discussion, motions and votes on the Royal Examiner video. Vice-Mayor Sealock spoke with Royal Examiner publisher Mike McCool after the meeting: