McKean County has a new county commissioner.

On Friday, President Judge John Pavlock appointed Republican nominee Thomas Kreiner to the unexpired term of Al Pingie, who passed away in April.

In an order issued Friday, Pavlock explained commissioners Carol Duffy and Cliff Lane had submitted a letter to the court asking for someone to be appointed to that vacancy. The appointee must be of the same political party as the commissioner who had died; Pingie was a Republican.

In Tuesday’s primary election, Duffy and Kreiner were chosen as the Republican candidates for commissioner in the fall general election.

Pavlock wrote in his order that he found it “important to give great consideration to the decision of the voters who have already chosen Thomas Kreiner to be their nominee” for commissioner. The appointment took effect Friday, and will last until the end of the year.

Kreiner’s first meeting will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

“Like I said when I was running, it is an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of the county,” Kreiner told The Era Friday afternoon.

“It’s a bigger responsibility and privilege to fill the rest of Al’s term,” he added. “I hope to continue the great work he had done while in office.”

Kreiner explained he had been sworn in at 1:15 p.m., and started right away.

“I have hit the ground running,” he said, explaining the basic paperwork was done and he was getting his office in the courthouse set up.

“I’m excited,” he added. “I want to focus on communication, transparency and fiscal responsibility. I want to make sure we are inline with our budget projections.”

Pingie had been in his fourth term as commissioner.