Jefferson County Republicans to choose new commissioner

Republican precinct committee members in southern Jefferson County will select a new Jefferson County commissioner Saturday morning.

Nine GOP committee members will meet at 9 a.m. at Fairview Township Fire Department, 7424 Ferguson Road, to choose a successor to commissioner Don Edmonds, McLouth, who resigned last week.

Travis Oliver, the county’s GOP chairman, said several people are interested in the job. Candidates will be able to give speeches to committee members, who will vote by secret ballot.

Edmonds, who would have faced re-election in 2010, resigned without giving a reason. Days earlier, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office began investigating a reported theft at a gasoline station, which Edmonds once owned and until last week worked as the acting manager.

Haag Oil officials had called officers because they originally believed $12,000 was missing, but station owners later discovered Edmonds had deposited the money in the bank after all and not told them. They had been unable to verify the deposit initially because it was a banking holiday.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig said Friday that the investigation was continuing.