By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
An interesting race has emerged for Buchanan County Treasurer as a familiar name challenges the man appointed to the office by the governor.
Jimmy Nash, a Democrat, is running for an office held, not just by his father who recently retired, but also by his grandfather and his great, great grandfather.
“It’s a really neat tradition that means a lot to me and my family and something I would be really appreciative to get to serve in that capacity,” Nash tells Barry Birr, host of the KFEQ Hotline.
Nash has left a 10-year career in juvenile justice to run for the office so attached to the family name.
But Republican David Gall says a name is not a qualification.
“I’ve heard him say many times about he’s a fourth generation,” Gall says, “but you know Barry, last I knew this is a public office, it’s not a family business.”
Gall says his background in accounting makes him the most qualified candidate.
Gall was appointed Treasurer by Governor Mike Parson in June after long-time Treasurer John Nash retired.
Gall also is a realtor, which has drawn criticism from Nash who says he’s ready to serve in the office fulltime.
“I’m going to be fully committed to this job,” Nash says. “My grandpa was fully committed to this job. I’m not going to sell insurance. I’m not going to sell real estate or something else on the side. This is my fulltime commitment and my job that I’m going to do and I’m going to do it to the fullest.”
Nash has left a 10-year career as a juvenile officer to run for the office.
Nash claims, Gall, a realtor, cannot devote all his energy to the office while still selling real estate. It’s a claim Gall flatly rejects, saying his practice is to hold any real estate work until after hours.
“It will just have to continue to be afterhours and on the weekends,” Gall says. “Like last night, I had to meet people at 6:30, because there was an inspection done. So, that’s just what I have to do. It really gets in the way of nothing at the courthouse, at all.”