INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Former County Commissioner and School Board member Wesley Davis has been tapped to become county property appraiser, replacing David Nolte, who died late last year.
On Gov. Rick Scott's final full day in office, his office announced the appointment late Monday, effective immediately. Davis, 49, will finish Nolte's term, which ends Dec. 31, 2020.
The property appraiser is paid $129,034 annually.
Davis, who unsuccessfully campaigned for the seat in 2016, thanked Scott and his supporters.
"It's humbling to know that our governor spent some of his last moments in office caring so much about Indian River County to fill this vacancy," Davis said in a statement. "I pledge to make the governor and every Indian River County resident proud."
Nolte, 75, who served 38 years in office, died Nov. 6.
Davis, a lifelong resident of the county, is a broker/auctioneer with Indian River Auctions and Appraisals. He was a School Board member from 1994-2000 and a county commissioner from 2004-2016.
Three others — real estate appraiser Stephen Boyle, former Deputy Property Appraiser Darlene Silverstein and Assistant Property Appraiser Helen "Sissy Long" Black — applied for the appointment. Long was Nolte's choice to be his successor.
In an Oct. 31 letter to Scott, Nolte said he was recommending Long to take his place "due to my declining health."
"There is no doubt in my mind that Sissy will be an excellent choice to complete my unexpired term and to lead our office through this transition," Nolte said in the letter.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush also recommended Long, according to an Nov. 12 email he sent to her.