The president of the local community college governing board has resigned and another board member is moving over — literally — to fill his spot, but the board toss up still leaves one vacancy.

Former Mohave Community College Governing Board President John T. Neal submitted his resignation letter dated Dec. 31.

His letter states: “Through life’s twists and turns I have realized that I will no longer be able to dedicate my time to the college over the next few years.”

Neal, who has served on the board for at least five years, did not return a message left on his cell phone Thursday afternoon.

“He had done what he needed to do,” said MCC President Michael Kearns. “We have found our way through some challenging times. He’s been a strong leader. … He was able to lead the board and keep the board focused on what we are supposed to do.”

Jerry Ambrose submitted a letter to the college dated Jan. 5 resigning from his position as the MCC board member elected to District 5 because he had moved to District 4 — Neal’s district.

Board members must reside within the district that they were elected from, according to Charlotte Keller, MCC director of marketing and public information. MCC is broken into five districts — voters only vote on MCC governing board candidates residing within their districts.

But in Ambrose’s resignation letter, Ambrose requested that the Mohave County Educational Service Center Superintendent Michael File appoint him to Neal’s vacant position. Ambrose has served on the board for more than two years.

Kearns said the college received a letter from File on Thursday making Ambrose’s appointment to Neal’s old seat official. Ambrose will have to be re-elected to that seat in the November election to remain on the board.

Today’s News-Herald was unable to reach Ambrose late Thursday night.

Now File needs to fill Ambrose’s old spot in District 5, which encompasses the eastern portion of the county, including Kingman, but stretches from the southern border of the county all the way up to Colorado City – about 315 miles north of Lake Havasu City, according to Kearns.

“It’s huge, absolutely huge,” Kearns said about the size of District 5.

District 4 — Neal’s old district now occupied by Ambrose — includes portions of Kingman as well as the Davis Dam area, according to the MCC Web site.

File also did not return a message left on his voicemail Thursday afternoon.

A notice on the MCC Web site states that interested candidates can submit a letter of interest indicating why they would make a good board member and a resume between Jan. 11 and noon on Jan. 15.

Kearns said the Kingman campus, which serves as the headquarters for the college, was named after Neal’s family. He said the family donated the land for the Kingman campus in the early 1970s.

“Since then the Neal family has been strong supporters of scholarships, donations of equipment … there is a very rich history of the Neal family in Kingman as well as the college.”

Kearns said Neal most recently was significantly involved in the land donation for the new nursing and allied health building expected to be open by this fall.

But the drop-offs of board members are nothing new for MCC’s District 4 and District 5.

Neal was originally appointed to the District 4 spot in November 2004 to finish Dean Finkbeiner’s term, which expired in January 2007, according to the MCC Web site.

Kearns said Finkbeiner moved. Since then, Neal has been re-elected to that seat.

Ambrose was appointed in September 2007 to fill the unfinished term of Lynda French, who had resigned, according to Kearns. Ambrose has also won elections for that district since then.

Kathy Hodel, MCC board member who represents the southern portion of Lake Havasu City, said “MCC was very fortunate to have had Neal serve on the board as president of the board of governors.”

“He brought experience and MCC was enriched by his family tradition and history that he brought to the college,” she said.

MCC operates four campuses in Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, and North Mohave. The unofficial total fall 2009 student enrollment was 8,171.

MCC board candidate letters can be sent to File at PO Box 7000 Kingman, AZ, 86401, or by fax to: (928) 718-4958 or e-mailed to: mfile@mcss.k12.az.us.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com