Nobody filed to run for the prosecuting attorney and the current coroner won his race for presiding commissioner, during the election on Tuesday, November 6, in Chariton County, each of which creates a unique situation for county officials.
According to results from the election, there were 142 total write-in votes cast by county residents- including the most being for current prosecutor Cliff Thornburg. Thornburg, however, does not meet residency requirements and thus cannot be voted into the office, according to a county official.
So, the official says state statute allows for the current prosecutor to remain in the position until a new appointment is made by Governor Mike Parson, which could be anytime after the first of the year. That appointee will fill the position until the next election, which will be in November 2020. Thornburg had been appointed by the governor to fill out the unexpired term of the previous prosecuting attorney who died earlier this year.
During the election, current county coroner Evan Emmerich defeated incumbent Tony McCollum, who had served as presiding commissioner for three terms, according to the official. The county official said county commissioners will have 14 days to appoint a coroner when the position becomes vacant on January 1- or whenever Emmerich is sworn in as presiding commissioner. In the interim, according to statute, the sheriff will fill in as coroner. The person the commission appoints will hold the position until Parson fills it by appointment.
The county official said the county has been notified by Governor Parson’s office that he is going to try to get all appointments that need to be filled throughout the state made within 30 days of the first of the year.