Afton's City Council has appointed Richard Bend, a member of the Planning Commission, as the city's interim mayor.
Bend was unanimously selected by the council, which convened for a special meeting Thursday at City Hall, City Administrator Ron Moorse said.
He replaces former Mayor Patricia M. Snyder, who stepped down abruptly earlier this month to focus on the security company she runs with her husband. Snyder, who had been involved in city politics for nearly 20 years, was in her third term as mayor and also served on the City Council and Planning Commission.
Her decision, which she explained in a letter, apparently caught city officials by surprise.
Bend will serve out the rest of Snyder's two-year term, which expires in 2014 when the city holds its municipal elections.
Libor Jany
@StribJany
