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County commissioners will open interviews Monday of the three candidates to replace Bill Paddleford on the board.

The board will interview the three candidates selected by the Teton County Republican Party to fill the vacancy during a meeting at 9:30 a.m. The seat became open after Paddleford died July 7 following a battle with cancer.

Last month, the Republican Party chose Larry Williamson, Paul Vogelheim and Scott Anderson as candidates to replace Paddleford.

Commissioners will appoint the fifth board member at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The public is invited to attend both of the meetings in the county chambers, at 200 S. Willow St.

During the board’s meeting Monday, each candidate will be given a few minutes to make a speech. Then, commissioners will question each candidate for about 25 minutes.

Valley residents are invited to submit questions for commissioners to pose to candidates during the interviews, Chairman Andy Schwartz said.

“The public is welcome to attend the interviews and should feel free to contact the commissioners with their thoughts about any of the candidates,” Schwartz said.

Williamson, the top vote-getter in the Republican Party’s tally, is an Alta resident who recently retired after a career with Grand Targhee Resort.

Vogelheim, who came in second, is involved with Boy Scouts in the valley and lost a bid for the Jackson Town Council in 2006.

Anderson, who came in third, was a member of the Jackson Town Council for 12 years before losing his re-election bid in 2006.

Paddleford’s replacement will serve the remainder of his term, which expires in 2010.

Commissioners may be reached at commissioners@tetonwyo.org or at 733-8094.