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Commissioners postpone appointment to vacant County Auditor post after interviews
Summary
After sequestered interviews with three GOP‑nominated candidates to fill the vacant County Auditor position, Walla Walla County commissioners said no candidate rose clearly above the others and agreed to delay an appointment for additional reference checks and due diligence, targeting Jan. 26 for further action.
The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners interviewed three candidates on Jan. 12 to fill the vacant County Auditor seat left by the retirement of Karen Martin, then returned from executive session and decided not to make an appointment.
Chair Jennifer Kimball opened the proceedings and explained the panel would use sequestered, one‑on‑one interviews. Commissioners heard identical question sets from each commissioner for each candidate, then moved into executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) to evaluate qualifications. After roughly 18 minutes, the board returned to open session and discussed next steps.
Commissioner Clayton said the on‑the‑spot questions had not been provided in advance and that she had not been persuaded to appoint any candidate; she recommended two weeks for reference checks and further review. Commissioner Fulmer said she too had reservations about each candidate’s connection to current county financial issues and supported additional background work. Chair Kimball said she did not think any candidate “rose to the top” and supported a short delay to contact references and complete due diligence. The board set a target to resume consideration on Jan. 26, within the statutory 60‑day appointment window noted by commissioners.
The three candidates interviewed were introduced to the board as follows: one candidate identified herself during questioning as Cheryl Clark (frequently referred to in the hearing as “Ms. Park”), Beth Daves (who described IT and state government experience), and William Howard Plucker IV (a longtime educator). Each candidate answered 16 standard questions about statutory duties, auditing and BARS reporting, ERP/system familiarity, and whether they would run for the office if appointed; all said they would. Candidates varied in direct auditing or GAAP/GASB experience: Plucker and Daves acknowledged limited hands‑on financial audit experience, while the first candidate described bookkeeping, banking and tax experience.
Commissioners emphasized the auditor’s role as the county’s record keeper and a transparency check on county finances and said they wanted to ensure the appointee could support staff during an ongoing budget and ERP project. Chair Kimball outlined the administrative steps necessary to finalize an appointment — resolution, bonding, orientation and oath of office — and said the new appointee would not be able to assume duties immediately until those steps were completed.
Next procedural steps: commissioners will conduct individual reference checks and return to public deliberations on Jan. 26. If an appointment is made then, the board will adopt a resolution and the appointee must complete bonding and new‑hire processes before taking office.
