Bellevue Council voted unanimously Tuesday to fill the vacant third ward council seat.

The vacancy created by the August resignation of Jerry Walter was filled by Mark Panichella, who will serve until the end of the year.

Panichella, 39, of Dawson Avenue, is the Democratic candidate for that seat, and will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for a four-year term.

A native of Greensburg, he holds a bachelor of arts degree from West Virginia University and is the director of human resources for the VITAC corporation.

Although council voted to make the appointment at the Oct. 6 meeting, Panichella could not be sworn in due to the unavailability of the local district judge. He will take the oath of office at a later date, according to council president Kathy Coder.