NEWPORT — A philosopher, a powerful department head, an anthropologist-turned-bistro owner and at least three Ph.D.s are among the 23 aspirants to be the next county commissioner — or to be hostages in an ongoing courthouse power struggle.

Pledging to open up the appointment process to fill a 60-day vacancy until the May 19th election when all three seats go on the ballot, commissioner Casey Miller is throwing procedural spike strips in front of Lincoln County’s dubious scheme to ramrod a temporary replacement for the late Claire Hall.

The debate at the Feb. 4 Board of Commissioners meeting had nothing to do with the applicants themselves, miring-down instead on how to choose an interim commissioner. The question over who will become the formidable swing vote on the commission could determine who runs Lincoln County — collaborative officials such as Miller, or unelected figures such as the county attorney and Commissioner Walter Chuck, also an appointee.

At the Feb. 4 meeting Miller argued the board has so far failed in its duties to approve a timeline, evaluation criteria or public input for filling the all-important vacancy — decisions it alone must make, not staff as Chuck and Yuille have asserted. Miller wants wholesale changes to an opaque selection process but has been outmaneuvered by Chuck, who detonated a power-sharing agreement with Miller in the wake of Hall’s death by arranging to cancel meetings Miller was supposed to chair while keeping his own.

On Wednesday, now-Chairman Chuck seemed to taunt Miller by suggesting he make a motion if he wished to “define applicant criteria,” then refused to let him complete the motion.

The appointment, if it occurs, will be temporary. Under state law, the individual selected by the board would serve only until the May 19 primary election, when voters are scheduled to elect a commissioner to fill the remainder of the term.

Miller posted a notable victory for open government in the days before the meeting, however, when he published all the commission applicants on his website, caseymillercommissioner.com. County Counsel Kristin Yuille subsequently ordered Miller to remove the post, asserting that the county, not an individual commissioner, was the custodian of the public records. They remain on the commissioner’s website, however, and include the following commission hopefuls:

• MARCELLA (MARCI) BAKER, a Lincoln City city councilor and businesswoman with a degree in anthropology who owns Marci’s Bar & Bistro;

• ROBERT BARNHILL, a retired U.S. Army officer and substitute teacher who would defy time constraints “to make sure every community in our county is heard.”

• MARAE BICKFORD is well known for showing up and getting to work, both as an office manager and organizer for the Taft Senior Parent Group.

• CHRISTINE (CHRIS) CHANDLER, public relations pro, has served on the Oregon Coast Community College Board of Education for over 20 years.

• MIKEL DIWAN, public works director of Lincoln County, grew up on a family farm before getting a degree in civil engineering

• CRISTEN DON, a big fish in marine biology affairs for over 20 years, considers herself a “pragmatic problem-solver.”

• DRU EARLS is a casino surveillance agent with a Ph.D. in chemistry who isn’t married and has no children to keep him from being “fully committed” to the job.

• SHEAHAN GRIFFITTS, an HR professional who once worked for the county to discipline a department head considers the job to be “a sacred trust.”

• DAVID (DAVE) HANSEN, who has a Doctor of Philosophy and two other college degrees, considers this a “great opportunity” to learn how government works.

• MATTHEW HARWELL is a retired EPA official with a Ph.D. who would bring his experience and leadership to the work as a “force multiplier.”

• SUSAN (SUKKI) HERMAN, a communications specialist, considers herself to be the “firm anchor” the county needs to move forward.

• ANDREW KEATING, a consultant who moonlights as an assistant rural mail carrier, holds an MBA and the seat at Pos. 5, Toledo City Council.

• JENNIFER KING is a Seal Rock resident and career educator who cited the recent recall as an example of the need for “transparent governance.”

• CARTER MCENTEE has an MBA and progressive business experience he believes would benefit the board — plus, he’s fluent in Spanish and Kekchi.

• NICHOLLE MOODY an MBA and a background in business and social services currently operates her own company in Depoe Bay.

• LAWRENCE A. NELSON wrote that he is an Oregonian “born to build and develop prosperous business,” a possible asset for the revenue-challenged county.

• JOHN PEREZ, a self-employed marketing consultant, has a degree in public administration and a background in “public operations.”

• RONALD REMUND, former banker KOA manager, would make a “great commissioner” because he is levelheaded and brings people together.

• CATHERINE (CATHIE) RIGBY has a master’s degree in public policy and hands-on experience in government, economic development and housing.

• JOSEPH (JOE) STEERE, whose resume was missing in the post, is a Lincoln Co. rancher and president of the small woodlands owner’s group.

• EDWARD (EDDIE) TOWNSEND has worked as a deckhand, teacher, coach and business owner who values economic growth and public safety.

• APRIL VAN WAGONER, Echo Mt. fire survivor, is at the top of the real estate game here and promises “intelligent, well-rounded leadership.”

Good luck to the applicants who will face unresolved questions about authority, transparency, and process — in short, all the elements of a titanic power struggle!