GREEN RIVER - And the winner for the open Sweetwater County Commission seat is …. none of the above.

So now a judge will decide.

As some expected, the two remaining Sweetwater County commissioners could not agree Thursday on a replacement to fill the unexpired term of the late commissioner Joe Oldfield, who died last month.

"I guess we're at an impasse," said commissioner Debby Boese.

The commission heard presentations and queried the three candidates forwarded by county Democratic Party officials for consideration during a heavily attended public forum Thursday night at the Sweetwater County Courthouse.

The Democratic candidates included former two-term commissioner John Pallesen of Green River, longtime Green River City Councilman Randy Walker, and retired school teacher Howard Logan, also of Green River.

The 65-year old Oldfield, of Rock Springs, died Aug. 7 after a brief illness. The popular Democrat and veteran teacher had two years remaining on his term.

Walker has served eight years on the Green River City Council, including a term as council president. He has been a school teacher and coach in the local school district for 30 years.

Pallesen is a past commission chairman who served eight years on the county board before losing to independent candidate Boese in the 2006 general election.

Pallesen defeated fireman Michael Springer in the Aug. 19 primary for this year's open seat currently held by commission chairman Wally Johnson.

Johnson ran unopposed in the Republican primary in his bid to retain his seat on the commission. Johnson is slated to face Pallesen in the November general election.

Logan, a retired educator who also owns two small businesses in Green River, was making his first foray into local politics after teaching biology at Green River High School for 31 years.

Up to the judge

Following the give-and-take with the candidates, commissioner Boese threw her support behind Walker. Johnson, however, said he favored the experience of Pallesen.

Boese said she was impressed by Walker's qualifications. "He has the experience to the job, and he's already been doing a great job (on the city council)," she said.

Boese said she was hesitant to support Pallesen after he won the Democratic primary in August. She said it "brings up complications" with Johnson, who Pallesen will face in the general election.

"The big problem is that the Democrats spoke and said you were the front-runner for the (other) position … and in my mind and my ethic, you won the primary and now you have an obligation and responsibility to the people that voted for you to continue in that race," she said.

"If you're chosen for this, that leaves that other slot open and you can still run for that and if you win … you could choose between the two-year and four-year (terms), and we would have to go through this whole process again," Boese said.

But Johnson said selecting a replacement was "completely independent" of the general election issue.

"I look strictly at who is most qualified to be that replacement and who will do the best job for the next two years," said Johnson.

"From my personal knowledge of his experience and having worked with him … I know he can come in tomorrow and be an effective commissioner," he said. "He's proven he's devoted to the county."

If selected as the replacement, state law would allow Pallesen to withdraw from the general election before the ballots are printed. Local Democrats could submit another candidate for the ballot.

Johnson said the commission's next move as required under state law will be to send an official letter asking either District Judge Jere Ryckman or Judge Nena James to begin the process for the selection of a county resident to fill the open seat.

Johnson noted the judge will not be bound to select one of the three Democratic Party nominations, and under state law can tab any county resident to fill the open seat.

Commissioners, however, said they would urge the judge to pick a commissioner from one of the three candidates submitted by local Democrats.

"We hope the judge would see likewise and limit his or her choice to one of these three," said Johnson.

Contact Jeff Gearino at (307) 875-5359 or gearino@tribcsp.com