MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon Nazarene University Registrar Mel Severns was the Knox County GOP’s choice to join the race for one of three Mount Vernon City Council at-large seats.
Knox County Republic Party Chairman Thom Collier told the Mount Vernon News that Severns’ name was submitted to the county Board of Elections on Monday, June 21.
The withdrawal from the election by Tanner Salyers after he accepted an appointment to be the Knox County recorder left the slot vacant.
Severns has been the university’s registrar since 1998. He has worked at the university since 1985. He and his wife have two adult children who were raised in Mount Vernon city schools.
Members of the Knox GOP Central Committee who live in Mount Vernon selected Severns on June 17.
The Knox GOP also appointed Amber Keener at that meeting to fill Salyers’ current unexpired term after his resignation from City Council to take the recorder’s job.
Four candidates will vie for the three at-large council seats in November: Republicans Severns, Keener and Janis E. Seavolt, along with Democrat Julia M. Warga.
