Love to replace Dunn as county treasurer

Patty Love, left, Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah and outgoing County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn talk following an announcement that Love had been elected by the Bourbon County Republican Central Committee to fill the remainder of Dunn’s term.

Jason E. Silvers

At a convention of delegates Monday night, the Bourbon County Republican Central Committee elected Patty Love, current deputy treasurer for the county, to replace outgoing County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn.

Members of the committee met at the Fort Scott Livestock Market to determine a replacement for Dunn, whose last day in the position is Friday. Dunn was elected county treasurer in November 2012 and took office in October 2013 due to unique deadlines in treasurers’ offices.

Randall Readinger, chairman of the committee, was appointed by the delegates to serve as chairman of the convention. Readinger said 14 delegates are needed to have a quorum for the meeting. It was confirmed at the meeting that 31 delegates were present.

Readinger opened the floor to nominations from the committee. Other nominees were Mike Mason, member of the USD 235 Board of Education, and Annie Clarkson, an employee of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office.

Nominees were given time to introduce themselves and answer questions from the committee. Members of the committee also spoke on the nominees’ behalf.

Love said she was born and raised in Mound City, attended Jayhawk-Linn High School and Fort Scott Community College. Love said she has experience working in various county departments.

“We’ve lived in Fort Scott since then,” she said. “I’m very familiar with the deeds and treasurer’s offices.”

Love said Dunn made positive changes in the treasurer’s office during her time there, and “I want to build on those changes for the county.”