Departing county clerk explains process to replace him

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – Linn County Clerk David Lamb’s notification that he plans to resign effective at the end of January has posed posed questions about how he will be replaced. In the Nov. 5 election, Lamb was easily re-elected to his post even though he had publicly stated he planned to resign once his replacement had been trained. 

He will be sworn in to office again on Jan. 13, but plans to leave his post within three weeks.

At the Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 9, Commissioner Jim Johnson asked Lamb for clarification on the process to replace him. Johnson said that he had received questions from several people about that process.

Lamb said that it was up to the Linn County Republican Central Committee to hold a convention to choose his replacement. He said that successful candidate would have to be nominated by a member of the committee.

Nominees would then speak to the committee and answer questions about their qualifications. The central committee would then vote on the candidates until one candidate received a majority vote.

Lamb said he was not that familiar with the process and that he had talked with the Linn County Republican Party Chair Becky Johnson. He explained that it was similar to how Sheriff James Akes was appointed to his post in October after former Sheriff Kevin Friend resigned.

Akes’ appointment was then sent to Gov. Laura Kelly for her approval, which she granted. Akes was subsequently elected to the sheriff’s post on Nov. 5.

Lamb said that that process had also taken place when Commission Chair Danny McCullough was appointed to complete the term of Commissioner Vicki Leonard in the spring of 2019.

Johnson then asked how the term would be set up.

Lamb said that the person that was appointed would serve two years and then there would be a mid-term election to decide on a candidate and the person who won that election would serve two years until the clerk’s position was back on the regular four-year cycle.

Lamb told the commissioners that he could not officially turn in his resignation to the Republican Party until he was sworn in as clerk on Jan. 13.