After spending a number of years a vice chairman of the Ogle County Board, John Finfrock had learned a lot about how the county operates.
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OREGON – After spending a number of years a vice chairman of the Ogle County Board, John Finfrock had learned a lot about how the county operates.
That will serve him well as Finfrock is now chairman of the Board after the sudden death of former Chairman Kim Gouker.
“There was some trepidation there because this wasn’t in the script,” Finfrock said of being elected chairman at the County Board’s Sept. 17 meeting.
Finfrock, who is retired from Kable News Co. and lives in Mount Morris, was first elected to the Board in 2010. He had served as vice chairman since 2012, when Gouker asked him to fill the role. He said he told Gouker he would do it, as long as it was understood that if asked his opinion, he would certainly give it.
“We didn’t always agree, but we always worked something out,” Finfrock said of Gouker.
Finfrock said Gouker’s death was “unbelievable.” He said that when Gouker did not show up for county meetings on consecutive days, they knew something was wrong. Gouker was found dead at his Byron home during a wellness check on Sept. 10.