Meet the man who succeeds Jerry Eaves.

The Board of Supervisors appointed Clifford O'Dell Young Sr. on Tuesday to the vacant 5th District seat to replace the disgraced Eaves and become the board's first black member.

Perhaps even more important than the cities included in Young's district, or what mark he will leave in his short time on the board, is what measure of character Young brings to the 5th District, saddled in recent years with legal actions against Eaves.

Young, 57, said he will not hesitate to do what he thinks is right in public office, declaring, "All I can do is be myself."

Executive assistant to the president for governmental relations at Cal State San Bernardino, Young said he did not think his short stay his appointment ends in December would handicap his ability to consider and shape larger issues facing the county, including budget woes, natural-disaster recovery and transportation.

"It is very important in my interim position to look at the problems facing us long term," he said. "Whatever I do, my first concern will be our long-term benefit."

He has not decided whether to resign from his university job or seek a leave of absence. He said he would make that decision by this morning.

Eaves resigned Jan. 19 under an agreement with the state Attorney General's Office. He pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy charge related to compensation he never reported.

Asked at his sentencing Jan. 21 if he had any interest in or influence over the 5th District seat, he smiled tightly and said, "No."

He and his wife, Jena, have since moved to Palm Desert.

The four other supervisors chose Young for the $91,594-a-year position from a pool of 14 applicants, two of whom also appear on the March 2 ballot seeking the seat.

It is the second time in two months the board has filled an opening. Patti Aguiar won appointment to the 4th District seat vacated by her husband, Fred Aguiar, early last month, a move some county critics called nepotism. Fred Aguiar joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Cabinet.

Marjorie Michaels, ex-wife of former 2nd District Supervisor Jon Michaels, reiterated that thought Tuesday.

"It's just too bad there are no more wives of supervisors for you to appoint," she said.

Board Chairman Dennis Hansberger, who represents the 3rd District, started his answer before Michaels finished her sentence.

"Jena Eaves is ineligible, Miss Michaels," he said.

Colton, Grand Terrace, Fontana, Rialto and San Bernardino perhaps the most diverse cities in San Bernardino County all fit somewhere in the 5th District's footprint.

"We had a duty to consider ethnic and gender balance," Hansberger said, an allusion to the board's majority of white men and the fact that there has never been a black supervisor on the board, which dates to 1855.

Paul Biane, 2nd District supervisor, said from the dais after he seconded Young's nomination that he originally expected to support a different applicant. Asked after the vote why he changed his mind, he referred to a Monday afternoon meeting with Young.

"I mostly figured it out last night," Biane said. "I get frustrated when people bring up diversity and say, 'Oh, you have to consider the diversity and the diversity is really important.' But OK, yeah, that was part of it. Cliff Young is a great candidate and that only helped him here."