Kathleen Doyle, a former Santa Rosa Junior College trustee who resigned the post in 2005 before moving out of state, was chosen Tuesday to fill the seat on the board vacated by Onita Pelligrini in January.
Doyle, a certified public accountant, was praised by board members for her financial acumen and experience with the college's $251 million bond measure passed in 2002. Junior college officials are again considering taking a bond proposal to voters.
"She will definitely be a real asset for the board going forward," said trustee Don Zumwalt.
Doyle, 63, will represent District 2, which includes Petaluma. She served on the board for 11 years in her prior stint and was replaced by Pelligrini. Doyle moved back to Sonoma County from South Dakota in October.
The current term expires in November.
"It's great," Doyle said after being administered the oath of office by board president Jeff Kunde. "I'm looking forward to it. Thank you all."
"It's a very important seat because it's the second-largest city in Sonoma County, and our other campus is there," college president Frank Chong said before the meeting.
Before Doyle's being voted into office, trustee Don Edgar nominated former Petaluma City Councilwoman Tiffany Ren?, but his motion died after failing to garner a second.
Doyle is expected to serve out the remainder of the term, which runs through November.
The seat was vacated upon the resignation of nine-year veteran Pelligrini effective Jan. 15. Pelligrini stepped down, citing her father's declining health and increasing demands in her role as CEO of the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: