“Thurston County Commissioner Bob Macleod announced Monday he has been diagnosed with very early stage Alzheimer’s disease and will resign his seat Dec. 31.

The timing of his announcement, nearly a week after the election, presents some unique challenges for local Democratic Party leaders and elected officials in appointing his successor.

Macleod, 81, announced his resignation by reading a letter to Thurston County residents Monday morning at the end of the commissioners’ regular meeting, which is televised. He noted his diagnosis for an unspecified medical condition in the letter, but later confirmed in an interview it is Alzheimer’s disease…

Macleod said he has committed to staying on the board until the 2009 budget is adopted. The county faces a projected $4.3 million budget shortfall next year. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the budget Dec. 15…

The Thurston County Democratic Party will forward a list of three potential candidates listed in priority order for appointment by the remaining two commissioners. Gov. Chris Gregoire would step in and make the appointment if the commissioners cannot agree on a replacement within five days of the vacancy.

The precinct committee officers elected during the August primary will take office Dec. 1. They then have a month to finalize a slate of candidates. It’s up to the party to determine if all the officers in the county or only those within the district now represented by Macleod will make those decisions…

Macleod represents District 3, which encompasses west Olympia, Tumwater and western Thurston County…

Last week, voters elected Commissioner Cathy Wolfe to a third four-year term and Commissioner-elect Sandra Romero, who will succeed incumbent Diane Oberquell on Jan. 1.

Sandra Romero

Cathy Wolfe

Romero must move up her oath of office to December from the traditional first meeting in January to be qualified to vote for Macleod’s successor. She and Wolfe must vote at Romero’s first meeting as commissioner, presumably Jan. 5, or the decision falls to Gregoire,” quoting The Olympian.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG ACKNOWLEDGES MR. MACLEOD FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND WISHES HIM WELL!