Opinion ID: 1629807
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Appointments to Fill Vacancies.

Text: Mrs. Joseph Melli was appointed a member of the board of public welfare during the interim period to succeed Margaret D. Beck, deceased. Thus a vacancy existed within the meaning of sec. 17.20 (2), Stats. Under secs. 17.03 and 17.20 (2) it is clear, as the attorney general concedes, that Mrs. Melli's appointment was valid and that she is entitled to hold office unless and until her appointment is rejected by the senate. David Adamany was appointed to the public service commission on September 19, 1963, to succeed Stanley P. Hebert, who had resigned his position on the commission. While the attorney general does not question the validity of Adamany's appointment, the provisions of the statute which creates the office of member of the commission, raise some doubt as to his eligibility to serve before confirmation by the senate. Sec. 195.01 (1), Stats., provides in part as follows: A public service commission is hereby created to be composed of 3 commissioners to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, but no commissioner shall act until confirmed. If the above statute is made to apply to appointments made during a recess of the legislature, the language contained therein that no commissioner shall act until confirmed would be in direct conflict with the provisions of sec. 17.20 (2), Stats., to the effect that appointments to fill vacancies shall be in full force until acted upon by the senate. The general rule of statutory construction is that where two provisions are susceptible of a construction which will give operation to both, without doing violence to either, it is incumbent on the court to search for a reasonable theory under which to reconcile them so that both may be given force and effect. [4] Using the aforementioned rule as a guide, we construe the language contained in sec. 195.01 (1), Stats., but no commissioner shall act until confirmed, as not applying to recess appointments made by the governor pursuant to the provisions of sec. 17.20 (2). The respondent Adamany, having been appointed to the public service commission during a recess, has properly assumed the duties of his office, and may continue therein unless and until his appointment is rejected by the senate. Respondents Zeidler and Koop were appointed to fill vacancies prior to the August 6th adjournment, and no action was taken on their appointments before the legislature adjourned on August 6, 1963. The governor reappointed Zeidler and Koop on September 26 and October 8, 1963, respectively, while the legislature was in adjournment. Neither appointment is challenged by the attorney general, and in view of the fact that both offices had been vacant, their appointments while the legislature was in recess were valid and effective when made under secs. 17.03 and 17.20 (2), Stats. Patrick Lucey was appointed to the investment board prior to the August 6th adjournment to fill the office left unoccupied by the resignation of the former incumbent. Lucey's appointment was not acted upon by the senate, and he was reappointed by the governor on September 23, 1963, during the interim period. Since Lucey was appointed to fill a vacancy, his appointment was valid and effective when made under secs. 17.03 and 17.20 (2), Stats., and he is entitled to hold office unless and until rejected by the senate. Our decision as to the validity of Lucey's appointment has no bearing upon any possible questions as to his eligibility under statutes pertaining to membership on the board.