Lawyer Jason Wehrle, of Cranberry, is the newest member of the Seneca Valley school board.

The board, in a special meeting Monday, selected Mr. Wehrle to fill the vacancy left by the resignation this month of Anthony Evans.

Mr. Evans was arrested March 21 in Neshannock, Lawrence County, and charged with driving under the influence, careless driving and driving an unregistered vehicle following a one-vehicle accident. His attendance at board meetings during the previous year had been spotty, with his last noted attendance on Nov. 12, according to board minutes. Board members had discussed removing him from the board even before he resigned.

Four candidates to fill the vacancy were interviewed by the board during the meeting Monday. Each was given up to five minutes to introduce himself and explain why he wanted to serve on the board. A series of questions from board members followed.

"This is something very important to me," said Mr. Wehler, 37, who has two children ages 5 and 2. "I come from a family of educators."

Mr. Wehrle said his mother, aunt and other relatives were school teachers. He later elaborated that none of his relatives currently work for the Seneca Valley School District.

"I'm here because I'd like to make a difference," he said. "I'd give this position 110 percent because that's what it deserves."

When asked by board Vice Chairman Robert Hill Jr., Mr. Wehrle said he believes the only mistake the board made recently was in how it handled the teachers' strike last fall. He said if he had been on the board at that time, he would have suggested more public discussion and more openness from the board on its position.

The three other candidates for the board seat were Robert Cadman, Tom Cully and Robert Gilenberger.

It took an hour and a half to interview the four candidates. Board members took a five-minute break to consider their decision before holding a roll-call vote. Before the vote, board Chairman Dean Berkebile said he would like to see the winning candidate receive at least five votes from board members.

Board members Dr. Sally Hanley, Anthony Storti, Jeffrey Widdowson, Mr. Hill, Joseph Scalamogna and Mr. Berkebile voted in favor of Mr. Wehrle. A second vote, which was unanimous, confirmed the selection.

An attorney with Strassburger, McKenna, Gutnick and Gefsky, of Pittsburgh, Mr. Wehrle said he was aware the job could command up to 25 hours a month and he was willing to give that much time. He also said he did not believe his current position as president of the Cranberry West Homeowners Association would interfere with his new position on the school board.

Mr. Wehrle said he planned to run for re-election at the end of his appointed term, which expires in December 2009. "I didn't take this position to be a stopgap," he said.