NEWPORT — More than five weeks after the death of Commissioner Claire Hall, the effort to appoint her replacement remains frozen — not for lack of applicants, but for a chilly impasse between the two remaining commissioners.

At Thursday morning’s special meeting, Commissioners Casey Miller and Walter Chuck arrived with separate interview lists drawn from a pool of 23 applicants. By the end of the session, it was clear the two men were not merely prioritizing different candidates — they were at odds about how the process itself should unfold.

The disagreement surfaced against the backdrop of an unresolved legal question: whether the county is already out of time. County Counsel Kristin Yuille opined that state law requires the vacancy to be filled within 30 days, placing the Feb. 4 deadline beyond reach. Miller appeared skeptical, asking for a written legal memorandum.

Later, he told The Beacon the statute containing the 30-day appointment window (ORS 236.215) applies to partisan offices. Voters here made the commissioners nonpartisan in 2013. The companion statute governing nonpartisan vacancies does not specify a time limit.

With that legal question hovering unanswered, the board moved into candidate selection. Miller’s top picks included:

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

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

• MIKEL DIWAN, Lincoln County’s public works director, who grew up on a family farm before earning a degree in civil engineering;

• NICHOLLE MOODY, who holds an MBA degree and owns and operates a cab company, has a background in business and social services;

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

• ALTERNATE: JOSEPH (JOE) STEERE, a Lincoln County rancher and influential member of the small woodlands owner’s group.

Chuck advanced a completely different slate:

• CRISTEN DON, a marine biology professional of more than 20 years who describes herself as a “pragmatic problem-solver”;

• DRU EARLS, a casino surveillance agent with a Ph.D. in chemistry who said family obligations would not interfere with his service;

• DAVID (DAVE) HANSEN, holder of a Doctor of Philosophy and two additional college degrees who called the role a “great opportunity” to learn how government works;

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

• CATHERINE (CATHIE) RIGBY, whose background includes public policy, economic development and housing.

The absence of any shared selections added to the stalemate as Chuck wanted more staff input before committing to a final list. Miller wanted to choose two each, on the spot, urging that interviews be held within days. He worried that the governing structure could be devastated “If something is to happen to either of us at this point in time.” Chuck made a toast, “I wish you good health and I wish myself good health.”

The board’s inability to settle on even an interview slate comes amid the tensions of a seminal power struggle pitting Miller against Chuck and a leaderless administration being run by the county attorney. Later in the meeting, Miller acknowledged ongoing conflicts and addressed Chuck directly.

“I think you’ve probably seen that over the last year especially things have been very tense here,” Miller said. “I think we’re all just trying to do what we think is right… and I just want you to know that I want to embrace you in this work.”

Chuck said the commissioners may have “perceived differences,” but that both shared “the common goal to do what’s best for the county and what’s in the best interest.”