Casey Snider, the Republican nominee for Utah’s House District 5 seat, was appointed by the governor to the Legislature on Tuesday following a special election to fill a vacancy.

That news was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Gov. Gary Herbert, who has endorsed the Paradise resident in the general election to succeed former Rep. Curt Webb, R-Providence.

Snider’s special appointment to the Legislature came after members of the Cache GOP overwhelmingly picked him over Karl Brown — the husband of his general election opponent — to fill the remainder of Webb’s term, which expires at the very end of 2018. Webb had voluntarily resigned Oct. 1 to serve a mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii.

Before Webb voluntarily resigned, he had announced late last year he would not serve another term in the Legislature. Webb himself had been appointed to the Utah House twice, in 2003 and 2007.

Webb’s initial announcement that he was signing off as an elected official prompted Snider to join the House race to succeed him. Snider was required to step down as chairman of the Cache GOP upon making his candidacy known.

Snider is facing off against Democrat Karina Brown in the general election Nov. 6.