The Athens City Council appointed two new members to the Athens City Board of Education Monday, replacing one member who has served for 15 years.

The council appointed SAIC computer engineer Russell Johnson and former Athens State University coach Larry Keenum on 3-to-2 votes.

Fifteen local residents had applied to be considered for the two positions formerly held by Ernest Campbell and Mack Smith.

The votes split the same way with each nomination. Councilmen Jimmy Gill and Henry White voted to reappoint Campbell, while Harold Wales, Johnny Crutcher and Ronnie Marks voted for Johnson.

Gill had nominated Campbell, saying that his calls had been overwhelmingly in favor of reappointing Campbell.

“He has served well for 15 years, he’s been to all the classes,” said White of Campbell. “You can take that as an asset to the school system over the years.”

However, Johnny Crutcher said that while he had nothing against the job that Campbell had done, “There are too many good candidates out there before you extend a candidate out for 20 years.”

The vote went likewise for Keenum, who has previously served on the board of education: Marks, Crutcher and Wales voted for him and White and Gill voted against him.

However, White, a former Limestone County superintendent and the principal of Reid Elementary School, said that he had “A tough time realizing why anyone would want to be on boards, but they were all super.”

Both Gill and White vowed to support Johnson and Keenum. They said the unpaid positions require a great deal of personal sacrifice.