By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The Livingston County Board held an organizational meeting Monday evening to construct the new leaders of the board and swear in new and returning members after November’s election.

Bob Young and Tim Shafer both ran for chairman, with Young beating out Shafer with a 13-11 vote.

“I’m feeling great tonight. It was a close vote. Even before tonight’s vote, I asked Tim Shafer, because I know he’s done a great job as Finance Chairman. I said ‘Tim, I don’t know which way this vote is going to go, but if I’m elected chairman, will you serve as chairman of the finance?’ He graciously said, ‘Oh Bob, absolutely, if you want me I’ll serve.’ So, there are no hard feelings. I think Tim and I are OK,” Young said.

When it came to vice chairman, Young nominated Mike Ingles with Tim Shafer and former chairman Marty Fannin being nominated by other board members. In another close vote, Shafer became the new vice chairman with a 13-9-2, with Ingles and Fannin, respectively, falling short.

“You know, one time, I think we thought we were going to have a boy and it was a girl, so life’s surprises work out well and this is going to work out well, too, so I was appreciative. Yeah, it’s OK,” Shafer said.

The newly reorganized board will reconvene at its regular meeting time, Thursday, December 15 at 6 p.m. and the historic Livingston County Courthouse.