County Commissioners Appoint Acting Sheriff of Midland County

MIDLAND, TX -- The Midland County Commissioners' Court appointed a new Sheriff this morning after the death of the previous Sheriff Gary Painter. 

On May 26, Longtime Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter was found dead inside of his home. Since that day there has not been an active Sheriff for Midland county, until today. 

The commissioners' court met and Commissioner Randy Prude made a motion to appoint the acting sheriff until re-election in the Spring of 2020. 

Two candidates were presented. The first was Rory McKinney, who was chief deputy to the sheriff before his death. More than a dozen people spoke on behalf on McKinney including Jennifer Painter, Gary Painter's daughter. 

The second candidate was Richard Gillette. Gillette is currently an investigator for the Midland County District Attorney's Office and he previously worked with the MCSO for 22 years. 

The court voted in 3-2 favor for Gillette and he says that he will not run for re-election.

According to CBS 7, McKinney plans to run for the Republican Party nomination in the spring of 2020.