By staff writer
The governor’s office said it would not rush to name a replacement for the late Ron Jost, the presiding commissioner of Gasconade County who died on Oct. 12 at his home in Owensville.
“There is not a timetable for making that appointment,” said Scott Holste, press secretary for Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat who is running for his second term next month.
However, Holste said the governor would move as quickly as he can to have the best person put into that position.
Any resident can apply for that appointment through the central committees of both political parties. The central committees of both parties generally submit their recommendation to the governor for his consideration.
“The governor can consider that, but he is not obligated to choose one of those two people,” said Holste. “The governor will consider a lot of things in making his appointment.”
The presiding commissioner who is appointed by the governor will be in that position until the next general election, which would be 2014.
Ron Jost, who ran for office as a Republican, was first elected the presiding commissioner in 2003, and held that office until his death. Health issues prevented Mr. Jost from attending some commission meetings in recent months.
Historically, Republican candidates have held the office as presiding commissioner in Gasconade County.
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