§ 171. Composition; selection of members.

Such board shall be composed of five (5) members. The board members in office on the effective date of this act [part] shall serve out the remainder of the terms for which they were selected. Each member of the board shall be an elector and a resident of the county and shall be selected in the following manner:

(a)

Two (2) members shall be appointed by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the political party whose candidates at the last preceding regular general election held for the election of all members of the General Assembly received the largest number of votes in this state for members of the General Assembly, and two (2) members shall be appointed by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the political party whose candidates at such election received the next largest number of such votes; provided, however, each such appointment shall have been ratified by a majority of the members of each respective executive committee voting at a regularly scheduled meeting of such executive committee or a meeting duly called and held for such purposes. In the event such appointments are not ratified by a majority of the members of such executive committees at least sixty (60) days preceding the date on which such members are to take office, then the members of the respective executive committees may elect such members by a two-thirds' majority of the membership of such executive committees at a regularly scheduled meeting or at a meeting duly called and held for such purposes. In the event the members of said executive committees fail to elect such members at least thirty (30) days preceding the date on which such members are to take office, then such members shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 5 [175] of this act [part].

(b)

The fifth member of the board shall be appointed by a majority vote of the other four (4) members of the board. Said fifth member shall be appointed within thirty (30) days of the party appointed members taking office. The fifth member so selected shall be deemed to be a member at large. Any appointment made under the provisions of this paragraph shall also be entered upon the minutes of the governing authority. The appointment of the member at large shall not be governed by the provisions of section 5 [175] of this act [part].

(Acts 2003, p. 4200, § 2)