In a gavel-pounding session that produced accusations of political gamesmanship, Lawrence city commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved a controversial appointment to the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.

At their weekly meeting, commissioners appointed failed Douglas County Commission candidate Marguerite Ermeling to a one-and-a-half year term to the planning commission, but not before a group that included Douglas County Commissioner Jere McElhaney objected.

McElhaney, a Republican who defeated the unaffiliated Ermeling in the general election earlier this month, said the appointment of a recent candidate would make the Planning Commission too political. He said he particularly objected to the fact that Ermeling would be serving with Planning Commission Chairman John Haase, who was a major financial contributor to her campaign.

“We have the appearance of something that isn’t ethical,” McElhaney said.

City commissioners rejected McElhaney’s arguments. Mayor Mike Rundle, who nominated Ermeling, said he was surprised at McElhaney’s objections, saying he’d hoped that McElhaney would have been a “more gracious winner” of the election.

Commissioners did hear from two other residents who questioned Ermling’s appointment, including current Planning Commissioner Grant Eichhorn. Eichhorn said he thought city and county commissioners should create some minimum requirements for people to have before being appointed to the planning commission.

Two residents also urged commissioners to approve Ermling’s appointment. javascript:body_doublesp()

The meeting also required the rare action of Rundle using his gavel to restore order to the meeting. Area resident Mike Capra tried to speak several minutes after commissioners closed the public comment section of the meeting. When Rundle said the commission was no longer accepting public comment, Capra insisted on speaking and Rundle pounded the gavel and commissioners voted over the speaking Capra.