NASHVILLE (AP) - The Metro Nashville Council has chosen Vice Mayor Howard Gentry to fill the unexpired term of the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk, who resigned.

Council members picked Gentry over four other candidates on the first ballot Tuesday night.

Gentry will finish the term of former clerk David Torrence, who resigned this summer to negate the possibility of being booted out of office and losing his government pension. Torrence was in his fifth term as clerk when persistent questions about his work attendance and use of a city car spurred by a television station's investigation led to a district attorney probe.

The 59-year-old Gentry said he will seek his own term in the city general election next August.