EVANSVILLE — Evansville EMS Coordinator Mary Beaver has been tapped to replace her brother on the Rock County Board.
Board Chairman Russ Podzilni today said he chose Beaver, 340 W. Main St., Evansville, for the Dist. 1 seat. The full board will vote on the appointment Thursday, Jan. 22. If the board accepts Beaver, she will replace former Supervisor Art Phillips, who died unexpectedly in September.
Beaver has been interested for some time in working at the county government level, she said. As an EMT, she has a “huge” interest in public safety, she said.
Beaver, 47, has led the EMS full time since 2004 and has been an EMT since 1994. She is a lifelong Evansville resident and graduated in 1979 from Evansville High School.
She is a member of many public safety advocacy groups in Rock County, including the 911 commission, the EMS advisory council and the Blackhawk Technical College Fire and EMS Advisory Council.
Podzilni chose Beaver after interviewing three candidates. He was impressed with her service in Evansville and around Rock County, he said.
“I was extremely impressed,” Podzilni said. “Mary is knowledgeable and easy to have a conversation with.”
Outside of work, Beaver is a member of the VFW 6905 auxiliary in Evansville. She is in her 15th year of coaching at Evansville High School.
Podzilni plans to appoint Beaver to the public safety and justice and the agriculture and land conservation committees.
The two other applicants in this attempt to replace Phillips were Janis Ringhand, 412 Fowler Circle, Evansville, and Mike Halvensleben, 15804 W. Croft Road, Evansville.
In December, a committee, including Podzilni, interviewed Ringhand and Susan Hilbert, 7902 N. Robert Drive, Evansville, but turned down both candidates.