GALLIPOLIS — Gallia County Commissioner Harold Montgomery will retain his seat as the commission president in 2013.

In Ohio, as set forth in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), boards of county commissioners must organize on the second Monday of each January to elect a president from among its members; and, on Monday, in accordance with the ORC, Montgomery was re-elected by his fellow commissioners as the president of the Gallia County Board of Commissioners.

Montgomery, a republican who served as the commission president in 2012, was elected in November 2010 after defeating the democratic candidate, Jason L. Sherill. Montgomery is serving in his fourth term as a county commissioner, having previously served two terms from 1991-1999 and a third term from 2003-2007.

Newly re-elected commissioner David K. Smith will serve as the 2013 commission vice-president.

Smith, also a Republican, previously served as a commissioner from 2005-2009 and was re-elected in November 2012 after defeating previous commissioner and Democrat Lois Snyder.

The third commission member Brent A. Saunders fills out the all-Republican board.

Saunders, the former Gallia Academy Middle School principal, was elected alongside Smith in November 2012 after defeating former commissioner and Democrat Joe Foster.

During the meeting, Saunders made the motion to re-elect Montgomery as the commission president and Smith seconded that motion. During a vote, Saunders and Smith voted to elect Montgomery, while Montgomery abstained from the vote.

Saunders also nominated Smith for vice-president and Montgomery seconded that motion. Saunders and Montgomery voted to elect Smith as the commission vice-president and Smith abstained.

Montgomery will preside over all regular and special sessions of the board, and, in the event of Montgomery’s absence from any meeting, Smith will assume the duties of the commission president and preside over that session.

Following the election of officers, Montgomery entertained a motion to set a date and time for commission meetings.

The commission then approved to continue to hold their weekly meetings at 9 a.m. on Thursday mornings. Meetings will be conducted throughout each Thursday until business is completed.

Weekly sessions will also continue to be held in the commission chambers, room 1292 at the Gallia County Courthouse, 18 Locust Street.

By statute, the three-member county commission must meet 50 times a year for regular sessions.

To make an appointment with the Gallia County Board of Commissioners, call the clerk of the board at (740) 446-4374 or email gcboc@gallianet.net.