The Hamilton County Commission appointed James Walker to the board of education on Wednesday.
Walker got the support of five Republican commissioners - Chairman Chip Baker of Chattanooga, Tim Boyd of Chattanooga, Randy Fairbanks of Soddy Daisy, Steve Highlander of Ooltewah and Greg Martin of Hixson.
Another candidate, Gary Kuehn, received votes from the three remaining commissioners, all Democrats, at Wednesday's meeting.
Republican Sabrena Smedley of Ooltewah missed the meeting due to illness.
Last week, Walker and Kuehn were both nominated, but Walker only received four votes, delaying the matter a week.
Eight candidates submitted letters of interest to the county commission for the position - the same eight who attended a candidate forum held at the Hamilton County Department of Education last month.
Walker will serve the duration of Highlander's term on the school board, as he was appointed to the county commission to replace retiring District 9 Commissioner Chester Bankston.
Given the opportunity to wait and be sworn in more ceremoniously at a school board meeting with his family, Walker chose to be sworn in during the commission meeting on Wednesday so he would be ready to attend a school board meeting on Thursday.
This is a developing story. Stay with the Times Free Press for updates.