The Warren County Commission announced this week that it will withhold appointing an interim county assessor until after the primary election in August.

“We, as a commission, decided to let the citizens of Warren County decide on the next appointment of our new assessor,” said Presiding Commissioner Joe Gildehaus. He said the commission wants to avoid appointing an interim assessor just weeks before voters have their say on Aug. 4.

The office of county assessor is currently vacant after the June 12 resignation of Wendy Nordwald. Two people have filed to run for the assessor’s office, and will face off in the August primary elections. The assessor’s office is responsible for determining the value of taxable real estate and personal property.

Commissioners said they want to avoid interfering in the assessor election, and don’t want to appoint a third party who would serve in office even after the new assessor-elect is chosen by voters.

Gildehaus said the commission will appoint the winner of the Aug. 4 election immediately after the results are tallied, and will forward their selection to Gov. Mike Parson’s office for confirmation.

The two people running for the assessor’s office are Kathryn “Katie” Smith and Terence “Terry” Bracht, both of Warrenton. Smith is a longtime staff member in the assessor’s office, and Bracht is the owner of Market 1 Realty.

“I think the citizens of Warren County, when they vote on their next assessor, are in a win-win situation,” commented Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner. “Both the candidates are very qualified. I don’t think it would be in the best interests of the citizens of Warren County for us to appoint somebody (beforehand). Let the voters make that decision.”

The decision not to appoint an interim assessor means the office will be without an elected or appointed leader for a total of seven weeks between Nordwald’s resignation and the day of the election. Commissioners said they are confident the office staff can do their job effectively during that time.

“(Nordwald) did a great job over the years. ... I feel very confident with the team (Nordwald) put together, that they can handle it for the next five weeks,” Gildehaus said. “I definitely wish (Nordwald) the best. She did a lot of good things for Warren County.”

Commissioners had previously considered an appointment to the office, and interviewed four potential appointees, including Smith and Bracht. It was only after further discussion they decided to withhold an appointment, the commissioners said.

The elected term of the county assessor doesn’t actually begin until September of the year following the election, commissioners said. That means the winner of the August election will serve as an appointee for nearly a year before beginning their four-year term.

Smith and Bracht are both running for office as Republicans. The office will appear on ballots again in the November general election, but because there are no Democrats in the running, that election will most likely be a formality.