New leaders appointed to fill Mary Ross Cunningham’s positions on Lake County Board

The Lake County Board approved new leaders Tuesday to assume the responsibilities of longtime member Mary Ross Cunningham, who died June 23.

Brandon X. Ewing, a banking professional and former president of the Waukegan Board of Education, was chosen to fill Cunningham's 9th District county board seat. He will serve until Dec. 7.

District 9 covers portions of Waukegan and North Chicago. Cunningham, who first was elected in 2002, had two years remaining on her latest term.

Board member and Libertyville resident Jennifer Clark was selected to serve as vice chair, also until Dec. 7. The vice chair assumes all responsibilities delegated to the board chair, including the execution of official documents, when the chair is absent.

An ad hoc advisory committee including board Chair Sandy Hart, board members Gina Roberts, Diane Hewitt, Angelo Kyle and Lake County Democrats Chair and state Rep. Daniel Didech, interviewed candidates and recommended Ewing, a Waukegan resident.

Ewing also has been selected as the Democratic candidate on the Nov. 3 ballot to serve the last two years of Cunningham's term.

With his parents and family present, Ewing was sworn in Tuesday by Judge Reginald C. Mathews. He said he isn’t trying to fill Cunningham’s shoes, but would follow her path of “a simple commitment to do right by the people.”

He’ll take her place on the county board’s health and community services, law and judicial, and other committees.

Clark, who chairs the public works and transportation committee and technology committees, said her appointment as vice chair was bittersweet given Cunningham’s death.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com