Former Lehigh County Commissioner Bill Hansell -- who was South Whitehall’s first township manager -- has been named acting Lehigh County Executive.

Hansell, 75, of Lower Macungie, was appointed on a 8-0 vote Wednesday by Lehigh County Commissioners to fill Don Cunningham's unexpired term, according to lehighvalleylive.com.

Hansell, a former Lehigh County commissioner, has worked as a consultant for governments and associations. 

Hansell has spent a half century in and around local government. He was South Whitehall’s first township manager when it became a First Class Township in 1966. He also served as Catasauqua Borough manager and Allentown business administrator. He has led the Pennsylvania League of Cities and spent 20 years as director of the International City/County Management Association in Washington, D.C.

Hansell talked about governing in an interview with Patch in 2011.

Hansell replaces Don Cunningham, who left office this year to become head of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. The county commissioners had to choose someone of the same party as Cunningham, a Democrat.

Hansell will fill out Cunningham's term, which ends next year.

Also seeking the acting executive position were attorney Matthew Croslis, county Commissioner Daniel McCarthy of Allentown, and commercial real estate company owner John Ingram II. Another applicant had withdrawn.