BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL
DANVILLE — Sue Ponder Miller has returned to county politics — albeit in a new role.
The former longtime Vermilion County Circuit Clerk was unanimously accepted Tuesday night by the county board to fill a vacant seat in District 2.
Miller, who lives in Oakwood, served as circuit clerk from 2000-2008 before retiring. She was first hired to the office in 1977.
Joining the board is not an unheard of idea for Miller, who filed to run as the Democrat candidate for the seat in the November general elections. She was uncontested in February’s primary election.
Miller, who took her seat on the board after the vote, said following the meeting that she has some issues she’d like to pursue once she becomes more accustomed to the board.
“I’m very excited to be a part of our county government once again,” she told board members after being sworn in by Presiding Judge Michael Clary.
In addition to her seat on the board, Miller was appointed to sit on three county board committees: the legislative, transportation and public safety.
The board’s decision does not change Miller’s requirement to run for the board in the November general election.
Miller fills the vacancy left by the resignation of former board member Lori DeYoung of Fithian. DeYoung submitted her resignation at the end of January. She had served on the board for three years.
County Board Chairman Jim McMahon indicated at the February board meeting that DeYoung resigned due to the Hatch Act — federal law that bars federal employees from taking part in partisan political elections.
