Hempfield Supervisor John Silvis appointed to 2-year term on board

A vacant seat on the Hempfield Board of Supervisors will be filled by John Silvis, a current board member whose term was set to expire in December.

Supervisors during Monday’s meeting unanimously voted to appoint Silvis to the two-year position that was left vacant after former Supervisor Rob Ritson resigned from the board.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board,” Silvis said. “I’m humbled and very thankful and appreciative. Nobody ever expects this scenario but it happened and I hope we can continue to work as a board. In my lifetime I’ve been involved in a lot of peer groups and this has to be the best. … I eat, drink and sleep this township activity.”

Silvis first expressed his interest in filling the vacancy during last week’s meeting. He has long been involved in local politics, serving on the Hempfield Area School Board for eight years before taking the position of township auditor. Silvis was first elected as a Hempfield supervisor in 2004.

This year, Silvis was not seeking reelection. However, he decided to vie for the vacant seat after Ritson in September submitted his letter of resignation to the board, citing increased demands from his job as chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield.

Supervisors on Monday unanimously accepted Ritson’s resignation. For Silvis to fill the vacancy, he also had to resign from his position before being appointed to the vacant seat.

Silvis’s former position expires Dec. 31. Township Solicitor Scott Avolio last week said other municipalities in similar situations have chosen to fill the remainder of terms with the victor of the November election. He noted, however, that they are not required to do so.

Following his appointment, Silvis acknowledged Ritson’s time on the board.

“I want to thank Mr. Ritson for his time on the board,” Silvis said. “He was a great asset. There’s no way I’ll ever fill his shoes because of his knowledge and background. He was our first manager at the township and went on to the state level. … We’re going to miss him.”