COEUR d'ALENE - Mica Kidd Island Fire District Commissioner Chris Shelton was recalled in November, but that hasn't stopped him from applying for appointment to his old post.

Five people who had at least some connection to the recall effort, including two of the leaders, also have applied for the now-open commissioner seat. The appointment will happen at a public meeting Jan. 6, said Fire Chief Jason Blubaum.

If the district's two remaining commissioners - Jim Smith and Larry Mundt - can't agree on one of the six applicants, it will be decided by a coin flip.

The winner will serve the remainder of Shelton's term, which would be until January 2016.

Mundt and Smith will interview the applicants separately, but will deliberate on the appointment at the Jan. 6 meeting, said Blubaum.

The district has 25 volunteer firefighters, the chief said.

"They're watching (who gets appointed) very closely," he said Friday. "Whether they decide to stick around or not depends on who the commissioners appoint."

Applicants James King and Gretchen Hauser were leaders of the recall effort against Shelton.

J. Kelso Lindsay is an attorney who represented King in his efforts. Lindsay, who practices law in Coeur d'Alene, is also a volunteer firefighter for the district.

"Apparently, Mr. Shelton is asking the commissioners to re-appoint him over and above the voice of the voters," Lindsay wrote in an email to The Press Friday. "I'm not sure of the legality of this, but it sure is interesting."

In a letter to the existing commissioners, applicant Randy Opp said he has been a resident of the district for more than a year.

King, in his letter, said he has been a resident for nearly 18 years.

Applicant Jim Wilson wrote in his letter that his brother is a volunteer firefighter in a small, rural town in the Midwest.

"What I feel I can bring to the table is over 32 years of organizational experience in working with volunteers, extensive parliamentary procedure background and meeting management skills," Wilson wrote.

Hauser is an executive board member of the Mica Flats Grange.

"In addition to my civic and community service experience, I have an extensive background in business and financial management, including co-owning my own business," Hauser wrote to the commissioners.

Shelton, a senior project manager for Young Construction Group of Idaho, served as chairman of the district's board of commissioners for three years.

Of 485 people who voted in the recall election, 263 wanted him out and 222 were opposed. There are approximately 785 registered voters in the district.

"So, about 60 percent of 60 percent of the registered voters who voted were swayed by the false statements on the recall ballot, (or about 33 percent of the registered voters and 15 percent of the tax-paying residents)," he wrote.

The recall ballot said he conducted an illegal executive session, but Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh didn't find that to be the case.