The Will County Board voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Lockport Republican David Oxley as a 5th District board member to fill the position vacated when member Annette Parker was elected county clerk in November.

Oxley is a lifelong Lockport resident, who has served on the city’s Plan Commission for 32 years, including the last eight years as chair. He is the owner of Oxley Construction, a concrete and carpentry company. He is married with three children and six grandchildren.

Oxley said he has been an active resident in the Lockport community, having been chair of the annual Canal Days parade for 18 years, a past director of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Canals and Trails Credit Union board and the city’s Heritage and Architecture Commission, which reviews applications for the city’s downtown historic district.

He said his extensive background in construction, land use and zoning would benefit the Will County Board.

The 5th District covers areas in Lockport and Crest Hill.

Oxley said he looks forward to working on behalf of his district’s residents and Will County residents.

“We are here to work for the people,” he said. “We’re here to get the job done.”

Oxley’s name was brought forth by the Republican caucus, and Democratic Speaker Joe VanDuyne of Wilmington said he urged both parties to support the nomination.

Jim Richmond, the Republican Leader from Mokena, said he believed Oxley would make a good addition to the board and his background would be an asset to several County Board committees, such as Land Use and Development and Capital Improvements.

“He’s been heavily involved in the community,” Richmond said.

Parker, a County Board member for 10 years, was elected as county clerk in November to replace the former clerk Lauren Staley Ferry, who resigned in the summer. Parker will serve the remaining two years of Staley Ferry’s term, and Oxley will serve the remaining two years of Parker’s term.

By law, the vacancy needed to be fulfilled within 60 days and be a member of the same party that Parker was at the time of her election.

Board member Steve Balich, of Homer Glen, the past Republican Leader, said he appreciated Oxley’s ability to work with others.

“He understands the issues,” Balich said.

With the reorganization and swearing-in ceremony held earlier this month along with Oxley’s appointment, the board is comprised of 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans, with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, breaking any potential ties.

Before the County Board meeting, the Forest Preserve District of Will County board, which is made up of County Board members, held a reorganizational meeting to appoint its new officers.

Because the board is equally split among Republicans and Democrats, it opted to share the duties of its officers as it has for the last two years, but the appointments were not without disagreement.

The first nomination for president and vice president failed.

In that case, Naperville Republican Julie Berkowicz would be president for the first year and Bolingbrook Democrat Jackie Traynere would be vice president, and the two would switch positions the second year.

Board member Frankie Pretzel, a New Lenox Republican, said he could not support Traynere because they didn’t see eye to eye with taxes.

Member Destinee Ortiz, a Romeoville Democrat, voted with Republicans to defeat the nomination.

The second set of nominations, approved by a 12-9 vote, selected Ortiz as president for the first year, and Judy Ogalla, a Republican from Monee and past chair of the County Board, as vice president. The two officers will swap positions the second year.

The Forest Preserve Board also selected Mica Freeman, a Plainfield Democrat, as secretary for two years by a 19-2 vote.

A vote to name recently seated board member Dawn Bullock, a Plainfield Democrat, as treasurer failed after Pretzel asked to seat someone from the Republican caucus to honor the politically split nature of the board.

Berkowicz was subsequently selected as treasurer by a 19-2 vote.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter.