New chair, vice-chair elected leaders of Cass County Board of Commissioners

Cass County Commissioner Bernie Williamson is starting off her second in term in office in grand fashion, as she takes over as the head officer of the seven-person board.

Williamson, who represents the county’s District 6, was elected by a vote of 6-0 to serve as the chair of the board of commissioners during a special meeting, held Wednesday night inside the county annex in Cassopolis. Williamson was the lone member nominated by the other commissioners for the postion.

Williamson, who has served as vice-chair the last two years, succeeds District 1 Commissioner Robert Wagel as the head of the board. She is the third chair in as many years to helm the board since it was reduced from 15 to seven members in 2013.

The Republican was first elected to the board in 2012, defeating Democrat Kevin Harris. She won her first bid for reelection last November, overcoming Democrat challenger Asali Kelly by a vote of 1,088 to 702.

Prior to becoming a commissioner, Williamson served as supervisor of Jefferson Township. She also served as the county’s emergency manager from 2001 to 2005, receiving  the Michigan Emergency Management Association’s Coordinator of the Year award for counties with populations of 50,000 or less in 2003.

District 5 Commissioner Robert Ziliak was elected as the board’s vice-chair during the meeting as well, over District 7 Commissioner E. Clark Cobb, by a vote of 4-2.

The Republican has served on the board of commissioners for the past 13 years, and served as the board’s chairman in 2010. He was reelected for another two year term in November, defeating Democrat Paullean D Washington to retain the district five seat, by a vote of 1,253 to 597.

Both appointments are for one year. District 2 Commissioner Dixie Ann File was absent from the meeting for the vote.