Lane Community College begins search for new board member

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Lane Community College Board of Education held a meeting to discuss a current and upcoming board vacancy on Thursday evening.

The current vacancy comes after former board member Philip Carrasco, who has been convicted of third-degree sexual abuse, submitted his resignation in April, which was accepted by the board on May 16. The LCC board then officially declared a vacancy for the remainder of the current board term, which ends June 30.

On Thursday morning, Carrasco submitted his resignation for the seat more than 28,000 voters re-elected him to on Tuesday.

READ ON: PHILIP CARRASCO RESIGNS FROM 2ND TERM ON LCC BOARD

That resignation made things more straightforward for the board during their special meeting on Thursday evening. During that meeting, the board voted to accept Carrasco's resignation. Though they accepted the resignation, they cannot officially vacate the seat Carrasco resigned from on Thursday until the Tuesday's election results have been certified, which likely won't happen until after June 10.

Board members said what they can do, is begin their search for someone to appoint to the Zone 5 seat, even though it won't be vacated until a later date.

During their meeting on May 16, board members voted to not fill the current Zone 5 vacancy through the end of June, choosing to focus their efforts on finding someone to serve in that seat beginning in July when the term begins.

Prospective student Stephen Godwin said he thinks the board should hold a special election, rather than appoint a new board member.

"I think that in the event that somebody resigns after the election has taken place if there hasn't been anybody running against him -- somebody who's second on the podium; a silver medalist to take the gold -- the logical thing to do would be to have another election. It doesn't seem that would be difficult to do."

The LCC Board of Education will be posting their public outreach for candidates soon with a minimum 30-day time frame to allow people to submit their applications.

The person appointed by the board will have to run for election in 2021.