Commission sets Jan. 1 start date for sheriff-elect

By Buck Collier, Special Correspondent
Posted 6/3/20

HERMANN — Gasconade County Sheriff Mark Williams’ time in office as the county’s top cop will be a little longer than first scheduled, thanks to action taken Thursday by the County …

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Commission sets Jan. 1 start date for sheriff-elect

Posted

HERMANN — Gasconade County Sheriff Mark Williams’ time in office as the county’s top cop will be a little longer than first scheduled, thanks to action taken Thursday by the County Commission.

The interim sheriff will continue in the post until Jan. 1, when the new four-year term of the sheriff begins.

Williams, the chief deputy under former Sheriff John Romanus, was named interim sheriff in late March when Romanus left the post to return to a civilian job held before he entered law enforcement. Romanus stepped down with less than a year remaining in his first term as sheriff, winning the office in 2016.

Williams accepted the appointment knowing that he could not be a candidate for sheriff because he does not live in Gasconade County. When the County Commission named Williams as interim sheriff, it was to be until the November General Elections results are certified. At that point, the winner of the sheriff’s office would take over.

The winner of that post actually will be decided in the August Primary Elections with the only candidates being Republicans Shawn Mayberry and Scott Eiler.

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann, said having Williams on board until Jan. 1 will allow the sheriff-elect adequate time to become familiar with the office and, more importantly, have input into the budget process that will begin in November. It will be up to the new sheriff to manage the Sheriff’s Department’s budget after Jan. 1.