EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — The former vice chairman of the Democratic Party in Madison County has been picked to head that southwestern Illinois group.

The (Alton) Telegraph reports that the county’s elected Democratic precinct committee chiefs on Wednesday night unanimously elected Jim Stack of Collinsville as the new chairman of the county party.

Stack succeeds Matt Melucci, the longtime Madison County circuit clerk who died last month.

Melucci had been re-elected as the county’s party chairman in March.

Stack is a 64-year-old Vietnam veteran and a longtime Democratic precinct committeeman.

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