Transition of county commission chair completed

Tammy Helm/Tribune photo The transition between Bourbon County Commission chairpersons got underway Thursday as Commission Chair Barbara Albright, right, and First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah switch the drawers in their desks in preparation for the new county commission, which will be seated Jan. 10. Oharah was elected as the commission chair for the upcoming year.

"Transition" seems to be a word heard a lot lately as one president prepares to leave the White House and another takes office in January.

Bourbon County had its own transition Thursday as one Bourbon County Commission chairperson made room for another. It all happened quickly -- within a half an hour -- and quietly -- except once when several papers from a desk drawer crashed to the floor.

On Dec. 15, First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah was elected the commission chairman by current chair Barbara Albright and Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman. Oharah will begin his chairman responsibilities on Jan. 10.

On Thursday, Oharah moved into Albright's chair. The move was done with little fanfare, as items from one desk were transferred to another.

"They told me it was easier to move the drawers than the desk," Albright said.

She had made the move into the center desk two years ago after Oharah defeated Allen Warren in a primary election. Warren had been the commission chairman.

On Jan. 10, Oharah will become the senior commissioner. Albright was defeated in the August primary election by Jeff Fischer and Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman lost his seat to Nick Ruhl in the general election.

Albright was elected as the second district commissioner in 2012. Coleman has served as the third district commissioners since 2008. Prior to that, he served as Bourbon County Sheriff from 1984 to 2008.

The new commissioners, along with other elected officials, will be sworn in at noon Tuesday, Jan. 9, by Sixth Judicial Judge Mark Ward.

Those who also will be sworn in are County Attorney Justin Meeks, Treasurer Rhonda Dunn, Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge, Clerk Kendell Mason and Sheriff Bill Martin.

On Tuesday, Albright suggested the new commissioners begin thinking about which boards they would like to serve. Currently, she sits on the Multi-County Health board and the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. Oharah serves on the Bourbon Economic Development Council and the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Board. Coleman represents the county on the Community Corrections of the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Center Board.