OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Public Power District board has delayed action on naming a new CEO as the Omaha World-Herald considers challenging the legality of the secret process.

At a special meeting Thursday morning the board acknowledged that its choice to replace retiring CEO Gary Gates is Tim Burke, who is district vice president of customer service and public affairs. But board members tabled the resolution to promote Burke until the next regular board meeting, citing public concerns about the process.

District board chairwoman Anne McGuire said Wednesday that board members interviewed four finalists in secret last week, but the district has refused to release their names. World-Herald officials say that under the state’s open records law, the district must release information about the final four candidates.