GOP appoints treasurer

CELINA - A retired math teacher will take the reins as Mercer County treasurer until voters make their choice in November.

The Republican Party met Monday night and appointed Dave Kaiser of St. Henry to fill the position vacated March 31 when Treasurer Doris Rutschilling announced early retirement. Rutschilling was re-elected as treasurer in November 2008; her four-year term began in September 2009 and does not expire until September 2013.

Kaiser will hold the post until voters cast their ballots for county treasurer in November. The winning candidate will be sworn in immediately after the board of elections performs its final count - about 10 days after the election - and fill the term until 2013.

Independent candidate Rick Mosier of Celina recently threw his hat in the ring as a candidate. The Democratic Party has until Aug. 18 - 76 days before the election - to appoint its candidate for the November election.

Kaiser, 61, must be certified by the board of elections and the Secretary of State before being sworn in to office. However, the Republican Party's Central Committee on Monday passed a resolution to petition county commissioners to immediately install Kaiser as interim treasurer, party Chairman Matt Gilmore said.

"It will get him on the job that much quicker," he said.

Commissioners are expected to decide on the petition Thursday. Kaiser could take the helm as early as Monday.

Deputy Treasurer Dawn Hinton was appointed by county commissioners as acting treasurer in late March. The Ohio Revised Code requires the position be filled until the Republican Party could make an appointment.

Kaiser retired five years ago as a math teacher and guidance counselor at Fort Recovery Local Schools. He works as a home service representative for Kaup Pharmacy in Fort Recovery.

He earned his math and teaching degree in 1971 from St. Joseph's College and a master's of education in counseling from Wright State University in 1978.

Kaiser was chosen from among two other nominees: Jeff Buschor of Celina, who owns Hometown Mortgage Lending of St. Marys; and Nancy Davis of St. Henry, a former employee of the county's tax map office.

Gilmore said all three candidates did a "nice job" presenting themselves.

"It was a close vote," he said, adding 24 members cast ballots Monday night.

The Republican Party's Central Committee was tapped to fill the post until November because Rutschilling is a Republican.

If Kaiser wishes to continue as treasurer he must file. He told The Daily Standard he intends to run as a candidate in November.

Mosier, 56, of Celina, filed April 8 as an independent candidate for treasurer in the November election. He is a self-employed Certified Public Accountant and operates Rick Mosier & Associates of Celina. Mosier holds accounting and economic degrees from Ashland University.

As a Democratic candidate, Mosier unsuccessfully challenged Rutschilling in the November 2008 election.

The county treasurer's duties include collecting taxes, investing the county's money and providing oversight to municipalities and school districts.