Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer says voters in the County will find a question on their Nov. 8th General Election ballot, with regard to how Township Trustees and Clerks are selected. In July, the Adair County Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution to put a question on the November 8, 2016 General Election Ballot asking if their Township Trustees and Clerk positions from should change from elected to appointed.

Currently 10 townships appoint the Trustees and Clerk.  Harrison, Jefferson, Lincoln, Richland, Union, Walnut and Washington in Adair County currently elect the Trustees and Clerk.  If township voters pass the question, it would change those offices to be filled by appointment, and the appointment would be for a four-year term.  When a vacancy occurs, the remaining position holders would choose a replacement, and then present that name to the Board of Supervisors for appointment.  If the remaining position holders were unable to find a replacement, the Board of Supervisors work to find the replacement.

The reasons for the proposed change is two-fold:  First, the same people tend to be elected each time the position comes up for election with no opposition for the office.  The change would no longer require that person to have his/her name put on the ballot. This would also save trying to fill the position by write-in when no one puts their name on the ballot; Second, the change Schaefer says, would save Adair County money.  The programming and ballot production costs are based on the number of ballot styles in the county. If all townships were to pass this public measure there would be 5 ballot styles.  This year the County has 13 ballot styles.

If passed, the people elected in 2014 would serve through 2018 and then, if they wanted to remain in the position, would be appointed at the first meeting in January 2019.  People on the ballot in 2016 would be appointed at the first meeting in January 2021.  If a vacancy occurs after the question is passed, the replacement person would be appointed.  Every four years the person would be re-appointed until they no longer want the position.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Adair County Auditor’s office at 641-743-2546.