[KHTS] – Saugus Union School District officials have a list of 16 candidates to fill a vacancy on the governing board.

The four remaining board members will be making their decision Friday after interviewing all of the candidates who applied to fill the seat formerly held by Stephen Winkler, who was booted from office because he didn’t live in the district.

“The board is looking forward to welcoming a new board member who will provide community leadership and advocacy on behalf of our 10,000 students in our 15 award-winning schools,” stated Paul De la Cerda, SUSD board president, in a news release.

The interviews are tentatively scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m., and each candidate is allotted 15 minutes per a schedule released by district officials.

Kacey Thorps is scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m., followed by Susan Huffman, David Powell. Michael Guinn, Joe Nocella and Alyssa Janney.

A dinner break is scheduled for 6:15-6:45 p.m., and then the interviews are expected to resume with Arnoldo Jaquez Jr., Mark Ross, Allison Devlin, Patsy Ayala, Noli Wiesen and Bruce Fox.

A second break is scheduled for 8:15-8:30 p.m., after which Dr. James Temple, Eileen Connolly, Julie Olsen and Rashmi Gupta.

Board members announced their intention last month to pursue the nomination process to replace Winkler.

An official with the state’s District Attorney’s Office validated board members’ evidence that Winkler didn’t maintain permanent residence in the district by granting the board the authority to proceed with a quo warranto proceeding, a legal process by which a governing body can remove an elected official.

The board then sought legal action against Winkler in Los Angeles County Superior Court, which was granted in June.

Saugus Union officials sought to hold an appointment versus an election to replace Winkler due to the cost, officials said.

To place the office on the ballot in November’s general election would cost $84,000, and the cost for a special election would be $743,000, according to district officials.

The candidate chosen is expected to be sworn in at the board’s next meeting, according to officials.