Two local government positions that effect Bourbon County are open, with the resignation of Ashley Shelton and Richard Hilderbrand.

Ashley Shelton resigned as Bourbon County Clerk on Jan. 12, after two years working with the county government.

“She sent her resignation letter to the governor on January 12 and notified me that she is resigning and her last day of employment is Feb. 3,” Mark McCoy,  Bourbon County Republican Party Chairman, said.

When contacted, Shelton said “The Bourbon County Courthouse is not a good environment. I don’t feel I am able to do the job to the best of my ability.”

Within her clerk office she feels “We have a good group.”

In addition to her resignation, another county clerk office person has resigned and another is transferring to different department.

“There is a lot of transition going on in the courthouse,” Shelton said.

The Republican Party will hold a convention on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.  at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main in Fort Scott to select a replacement for Shelton.

“We have 21 days to set a convention to select someone to be approved and their name sent to the governor for appointment,” McCoy said.

The county currently has 34 committee members and during the convention they will interview the candidates,  then have a question and answer session with them.

The candidates will have about 10 minutes to say why they should be selected, he said.

Following this, the party will meet  privately to discuss the candidates and a decision will be made by secret ballot and sent to the governor, McCoy said.

U.S. Senator Richard Hilderbrand

In addition to Shelton, local Republicans will go through the established process of selecting a new Dist. 13 Kansas Senator.

Richard Hilderbrand resigned on Jan. 4, just before the Kansas legislature was set to start. He has served since 2017.

He represented Bourbon, Cherokee and Crawford Counties.

The local committee members from each county will meet on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. at the Columbus High School auditorium.

Crawford County is in charge until a chairman is selected from those attending the convention, McCoy said.

Once again, candidates will be given a certain number of minutes to tell the group why they should be selected, followed by a question and answer time, then private discussion by the group and a vote taken.

That name will be sent to the governor and wait for appointment.

“Three people have placed their name for this position, Tim Shallenberger, Keri Jensen and Dan Muter,” McCoy said. “Ken Collins was interested, but decided to remove his name.”

McCoy said Hilderbrand resigned to focus on his insurance business and his family.