District 5 Commissioner Darrell Sanders will assume the role of chairman of the Butler County Commission on April 20.

Sanders will take over for District 4 Commissioner Allin Whittle.

In 2012, the commission voted to rotate the positions of chairman and vice chairman among the five commissioners. Each commissioner will serve a term of nine months and two weeks as chairman and another nine months and two weeks as vice chairman.

The rotation began with District 2 Commissioner Jesse McWilliams and will circle back around to District 1 Commissioner Joey Peavy.

The commission elected to start in District 2 in order to have the two most experienced commissioners, McWilliams and District 3 Commissioner Frank Hickman, serve as the chairman for the first two terms.

Whittle was the first of the first-term commissioners to serve as chairman.

“It’s been a very humbling experience to come from the backwoods of Pigeon Creek (and serve as chairman of the county commission),” Whittle said. “Life’s been good. To be able to work with a group of guys like these — and I can say it without reservation — is a recipe for success. We’re all different and we have different opinions, but we all come together to take care of the business of the county. … I’ve enjoyed my time as chairman and look forward to working with Darrell as chairman.”

Sanders said he has prepared for serving as chairman by studying how Whittle handled the job.

“Allin has done a great job,” Sanders said. “I’ve tried to pay close attention to how he handled things, and ask the ladies in the office how he did things, and he’ll be my role model. I know I have two guys with all the experience in the world (in McWilliams and Hickman) and a good lawyer (in Calvin Poole) to keep me straight.”

The commission will hold its next regular meeting May 11 at 8:30 a.m. at the Butler County Courthouse Annex.