Stonington -- The Republican Town Committee is recommending that the Board of Education appoint Gordon Lord to fill one of the vacancies on the board created by the recent resignations of Republican Chairman Alexa Garvey and Democrat Candace Anderson.

The committee voted 13 to 10 to endorse Lord, who ran unsuccessfully for the board two years ago, over former board member Faith Leitner, who has criticized how school officials have handled the sexual harassment allegations against former high school teacher Timothy Chokas. Lord is also a member of the school Reopening Task Force.

In announcing the recommendation, Committee Chairman Shaun Mastroianni pointed out that there is confusion about how the school board should fill the vacancies.

The board’s bylaws state the remaining board members who belong to the same party as the member who stepped down shall fill the vacancy. But the town charter states that the remaining board members shall fill the vacancy.