Jeff McWhorter of rural Aledo is the new Mercer County Board Chairman, but only after four tie votes and a coin toss tonight. The other candidate was Dan Schroeder of New Boston.
[audio:http://wrmj.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mcwhorter-chairman.mp3|titles=mcwhorter chairman]
Tonight’s meeting began with a walk-out by Republicans Fred Rooth and  Brian Anseeuw. They claimed it was illegal for the old board to finish up business before the new board was seated. Mercer County State’s Attorney Greg McHugh said Rooth and Anseeuw were wrong. The two returned when the new board was seated. The meeting ended with a heated exhchange between fellow District 4 county board members Rooth and Schroeder.