RAY NOLTING
ERIE — The Neosho County Republican Central Committee on Tuesday voted to nominate Gabby Sands, assistant treasurer and tax coordinator, as Neosho County treasurer. The nomination will be forwarded to Gov. Laura Kelly, who can make the appointment or take no action and the appointment stands.
Sands will replace Sydney Ball, who resigned as treasurer effective Dec. 6.
The committee had 29 delegates, some with proxies, at Tuesday’s meeting, including Neosho County Commissioners Gail Klaassen and Paul Westhoff, who also serve as precinct committee persons.
Committee member Ball nominated Gabby Sands to serve a portion of her remaining term. Sands will have to stand for election in 2026 to finish the full term.
In the introduction, Ball said she had worked with Sands for six years. Sands takes her job seriously and her knowledge base has come a long way in that time. “Every day she brings pride and joy to the office and goes above and beyond the call of duty to help the taxpayers. I have no doubt that she would excel in this position,” Ball said of Sands.
Sands said she is 26 and has lived in Erie since late 2016. She got married in 2017 and the couple have a daughter.
“I love my job. I love who I work with. And I love who I work for,” Sands told the delegates.
She added that she likes to figure things out so she has answers.
Marcia McCoy nominated Keely Dodge for the position. McCoy is the deputy treasurer and motor vehicle supervisor. She said Dodge was level-headed and had management skills. Dodge goes above and beyond whatever needs to be done. “You have a tough decision to make,” McCoy said.
Dodge, a motor vehicle and tax clerk in the office, said she was 34 and lives in St. Paul with her fiance and three kids. She started working in the treasurer’s office two years ago and she loves the work. She said she would go above and beyond as treasurer and work closely with commissioners and other elected officials. She supports open communication.
“It’s very important that people trust who’s in charge of the money,” Dodge said.
After the delegates interviewed the two nominees behind closed doors, they returned to open session and had a secret ballot vote, which is required in the statute. The delegates cast 19 votes for Sands and 10 for Dodge. Sands’ name will be forwarded to the governor for appointment.
She will serve until 2026, when she will have to run for election to complete Ball’s four year term. Ball was just elected in November to a four year term. If she wins that election, she will take office in January 2027. Normally, treasurers take office on the second Tuesday of October following the election, according to Doug Klaassen, the Republican Party chairman.
Early in the meeting, delegate David Bideau wanted to delay the decision until closer to Christmas to allow more candidates to learn about the position and possibly seek a nomination. The delegates voted his motion down.
Four employees from the treasurer’s office showed up for the meeting but only two were nominated.
