By Alabama Public Radio
Mobile, AL – Riley appointed high school teacher and basketball coach Juan Chastang Tuesday to fill the vacancy created when former commissioner Sam Jones, a Democrat, was elected mayor of Mobile. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last week Riley could appoint someone to serve the remaining three years of Jones' term. Three black Democratic legislators, who supported a special election to fill the vacant commission seat, had gone to court to block a Riley appointment. Jones was the only black Democrat on the three-member commission. Chastang is a black Republican. Riley says Chastang would represent the interests of all the people in his district.