BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

Former Coffeyville city commissioner Virgil Horn, Jr., on Tuesday was selected to fill a vacant city position on the city commission.

By a 3-1 vote, Horn was chosen to succeed commissioner Jim Taylor, Sr., who resigned his commission post on April 5. Horn will continue to serve the remainder of Taylor’s term, which ends in April 2013.

Horn, who resides at 302 E. John, was one of four applicants for the vacant commission seat. Other citizens to apply for the position and gain an interview with the commission at the start of Tuesday’s meeting included Peter Berick, 1805 Valley View Drive; Marcus Kastler, 804 Kansas; and Charles L. Weed, 403 W. 9th.

Commissioner Don Edwards nominated Kastler, but commissioners Richard Gonzales and David George as well as Mayor Pam Jones gave their nod to Horn.

“I’m honored,” said Horn upon assuming the commission chair. “I thank you for your vote of confidence. We’ll do the very best we can.”

Horn, who was elected to the commission in 2005, was mayor during the 2007 flood — a natural disaster that also claimed his own home. The aftermath of that flood forced commissioners to examine prospects for additional housing due to the loss of hundreds of residences on the east side of Coffeyville.

Horn came under fire from some citizens, including Jim Taylor, Sr., for a proposed housing development north of the Windsor Place main campus on West First Street. Taylor, who was not on the commission at that time, instigated a recall petition to seek Horn’s ouster, however Horn chose not to seek re-election in 2009 due to the prospects of facing a recall petition.

Taylor ultimately rode into office in April 2009 on that same housing issue, which ultimately was dropped by the commission.

Though never mentioned publicly at Tuesday’s meeting, the Horn selection did reveal a story of political irony. It was Horn who left office on the threat of recall, only to be brought back to the commission Tuesday to replace the commissioner who instigated the petition seeking his removal from office.