The Merced City Council appointed Yang Pao Thao to the District 2 council seat left vacant by Ronnie De Anda’s resignation in October.

Alma Villegas

The Merced FOCUS

The appointment of a qualified southwest Merced representative on Dec. 2 follows the council’s decision to move forward without a special district election. In a 5-1 vote, council members appointed Thao, a sitting planning commissioner and District 2 resident, to fill the vacancy.

Thao, 41, will have to give up his seat on the Planning Commission now that he joins the council.

“I am prepared to begin this work on Day One,” Thao wrote in his application, which introduces his plan to tour the district, meet with community members and review ongoing infrastructure projects during his first 90 days in office.

Thao will finis

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