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The board of directors for Palm Beach County’s teachers union has selected incoming Vice President Debra Wilhelm to take over as the union’s new president Friday.

Robert Dow, who was to begin his second term as union president next month, died June 18 after a battle against an incurable form of leukemia.

Because Dow died before his second term could begin, the board of the Classroom Teachers Association decided to review its bylaws about what to do with its leadership positions at the beginning of next month.

At a meeting Monday evening, they decided to have Wilhelm become president and to hold a special election for a new vice president.

The date of the special election has not yet been set, said Kathi Gundlach, who has been the acting president of the union for more than a month, since Dow took a leave of absence to undergo chemotherapy.

Gundlach said the treasurer position, which will go to middle school social studies teacher Imani Betts, is not being affected. Nor will the secretary position, held by Michelle Enos; the secretary position was not up for a new term this year.

Dow was first elected to be union president in 2008. He had originally planned not to run for another three-year term because of his illness, but in January made the surprise announcement he was running for reelection after doctors told him his condition had stabilized.

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