MORGAN -- The Morgan County Council appointed Donald Mathews to be its newest member this week.
After the May resignation of Councilman David Gardiner, the council sought applicants for the District 5 seat representing North Morgan. Since the four-year seat expires at the end of the year, the seat was already up for election.
Mathews and Austin F. Turner both applied as candidates and temporary replacements. After an evening interviewing with the council, Mathews was appointed as replacement. Mathews will be officially sworn in Monday.
Mathews has mixed feelings on whether the six-month appointment will give him an advantage during the fall election. He will have been on the council a little more than four months when residents go to the polls to elect their next District 5 council representative.
"It could help give me so much more the advantage to already have this experience under my belt," Mathews said. "But given the political climate, being an incumbent is not a good place to be in this year."
As the newest council member, Mathews plans to keep a close eye on the county's finances.
"Finances are important in a slow economy when you have to tighten your belt, but you don't want to raise taxes," Mathews said.
Mathews also hopes to see opportunities for economic development in Morgan to improve alongside the general economy.
Mathews, who first moved to Morgan County in 1990, is married with five children and eight grandchildren. A native of Orem, Mathews said he moved to the area to be closer to his wife Cheri's family.
"I obviously like it here," said Mathews, who returned to Morgan after a job transfer to Phoenix. "It's still small, quiet and rural."
Mathews said the school system was a draw for him and his children.
He has been employed for eight years as a national accounts manager for Alsco, a worldwide textile company.
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