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Republicans select new county attorney
Jacqueline Spradling, an attorney from Spring Hill, was chosen Thursday night as the next Bourbon County attorney.
At a convention of delegates held at the Fort Scott Livestock Market, members of the Bourbon County Republican Central Committee heard from three interested candidates and voted to elect Spradling as the replacement for former County Attorney Justin Meeks, whose last day in that position was Jan. 2.
Thirty-two delegates representing different Fort Scott wards and townships were present for the meeting. Two committee members voted by proxy. Officials said 14 delegates are needed for a quorum. Spradling, a late entry on Thursday, received 23 of 34 votes following a secret vote by the committee. Spradling’s nomination was made official when the meeting was re-opened to the public.
“I’m just very honored,” Spradling said shortly after the votes were counted. “I will work diligently to help you all.”
Gayle Sackett, who previously was vice-chairman of the committee, was elected chairman of the convention. She filled the spot held by Randall Readinger, who died Dec. 26.
Sackett opened the floor to nominations from the committee. Other nominees were Terra Tecchio, currently the assistant Bourbon County attorney, and Tiana McElroy, an attorney from Columbus. Nominees were given time to introduce themselves and answer questions from the committee. McElroy received 10 votes and Tecchio received one vote. All three candidates are registered Republicans.
Committee member Ken Wood, a spokesman for McElroy, said she has a “good record of experience in various venues and counties.” McElroy has 13-14 years of experience in “all types of cases” and would be a “good candidate,” Wood said.
In speaking for Tecchio, committee member Rhonda Dunn said Tecchio is a “good part of the Bourbon County team.” Tecchio is “confident, prepared and ready to lead the office,” Dunn said. “She has plans for prosecuting new cases.”
Dunn said Tecchio would be the best candidate to “ensure a smooth transition.” Tecchio is also organized, is working to clear a “backlog of cases” and would be “tough on crime.” Tecchio also has plans for improvements in the attorney’s office, Dunn said.
Committee member Patty Love said she had a chance to talk with Spradling and was told by someone who works in Allen County that Spradling “works well with people in the courthouse and is popular” and “by the book.”
Spradling said she has been a “career prosecutor” for 27 years across the state.
“I’m committed to helping people who have been wronged,” she said.
Spradling said she would “always be available to law enforcement and those who need me.”
“There are two things I would promise – to be available if needed, and to stand next to law enforcement,” she said.
Regarding her caseload in Allen County, Spradling said she handles the juvenile docket, as well as misdemeanor and traffic cases.
“There’s nothing I don’t like about prosecution,” she said.
McElroy said she prosecutes several types of cases in several counties, primarily juvenile and Child In Need of Care cases. McElroy, who lives in Columbus, said she is “not opposed to moving to Bourbon County” if she was elected to the position. It was confirmed at the meeting the county attorney is not required to live within the county.
McElroy said one of her primary goals would be to “improve the relationship” between the county attorney’s office and law enforcement. Her concerns with the Bourbon County Attorney’s office include victims “not being notified” of court hearings and being “visible” in the court process. McElroy said diversion agreements “are for people who made one bad choice, and it shouldn’t follow them around the rest of their life.”
Tecchio said she is frequently “in court opposite” McElroy. Tecchio lives in Fort Scott and has spent two years as the assistant county attorney.
“Secrecy begets tyranny,” she said. “I am an open book,” adding she believes in being available to the public and “no back door dealings.”
One of her goals, Tecchio said, is to “keep crime off the streets.”
“I’m ready to lead this county,” she said. “I think it would be a seamless transition. I’m already familiar with the caseload.”
Tecchio said she is familiar with the county through “living and working here.”
“I am a townie. I consider myself a townie,” she said. “It’s a town I’ve come to love.”
Regarding working with Meeks, Tecchio said “I view us as colleagues” but she wants to be “a lot tougher on crime.”
“We have some different philosophies,” she said.
Tecchio said some of her plans would be to put a “victim/witness coordinator” in place who “makes sure they feel heard.” Tecchio said she is also familiar with the budget for the office and administrative tasks.