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Commission members voted 3-1, with Commissioner A. Wayne Bennett dissenting, to have Bostick-Tullis fill the seat vacated by Commissioner Tim Turkelson June 2, when the city hired his law firm, Kohl, Harris, Nolan, McCarthy, Turkelson and Odgen, to represent the city.

Turkelson, who was first elected to the commission in April 2003, won a four-year seat on the commission last November. That means Bostick-Tullis will have to run for election to the balance of Turkelson's term in November 2009.

Although she grew up in North Branch and graduated from high school there in 1986, Bostick-Tullis parents grew up in the city and she's practice family law here since 1995. After graduating from Northern Michigan University with a bachelor of science in political science and economics in 1990, she graduated from Lansing's Cooley Law School in 1994.

In nominating her Commissioner Deborah Marquardt noted that Bostick-Tullis and her husband, Troy, had considered moving out of the city, but opted to invest in a major renovation of their house instead. Marquardt added Bostick-Tullis is a past chairman of Lapeer County Habitat for Humanity and has been a member and vice chairman of the city's zoning board of appeals.

Bostick-Tullis was one of 10 people who volunteered to fill Turkelson's chair, including Scot D. Atyoe, Matthew J. Fennelly, Sara M. Lesky, Charles D. Mitchell, James H. Peterson, Rick Pizzala, David R. Sommerville, Charles D. Treece and Richard B. West.

In explaining his no vote, Bennett said, "the most fair and honest way to do this is to give them all a chance by lottery." That, he said, would "remove all politics and be fair to all concerned."

"I applaud you for not resorting to a lottery," said city resident Sam Williams after the vote. "This is a decision you had to make."

Acknowledging the nine people who didn't get a seat on the commission, Commissioner Dan Farrington said, "I expect to see no less than five of you running" in 2009. In the meantime, he noted, there will be seats opening on the city's zoning board of appeals and planning commission, adding "those are very good boards to be on."

Mayor Bill Sprague, who will also be up for re-election in 2009, said he was encouraged by the number of people who stepped up to fill Turkelson's chair. Noting there have been times in the past when the city practically had to draft people to fill vacancies, Sprague said, "This makes me feel really good about the city's future."

Phil Foley may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8148 or pfoley@lapeergroup.com.