Williams resigns from county commission

Allen County Commissioner Tom Williams resigned Tuesday, effective Aug. 17, to take a job investigating fraud in the attorney general’s office.
Williams, a former Allen County Sheriff, said he and his wife, Margo, expected to move to the Topeka area.
With Margo at his side Tuesday morning, Williams said, “The time I have spent in Allen County as a KBI agent, as your sheriff and as a county commissioner, truly has been a blessing for my family and myself. I have been a part of many wonderful accomplishments that have made our county better.”
Williams is nearing the midpoint of his second four-year term on the commission.
“Although it has been my great honor to serve as your commissioner, I understand that the day-to-day operations and success of the county is due to the hard work of the county employees and to those department heads that ensure the county and its citizens are served well,” Williams said. “My role as commissioner is fairly small compared to what they all do.”
Williams said his experience in law enforcement and county government has been good preparation for the position in the AG’s office.
Williams’ resignation will result in a second commissioner being appointed this year, in all likelihood for the first time in a single year in the county’s history. John Brocker joined the commission in March, replacing Jim Talkington when he resigned.
Talkington remains chairman of the Republican Central Committee and it will be his responsibility to call a convention of precinct men and women in the Second District, which Williams represents. In the district are Iola, Gas, LaHarpe, Mildred and six townships, Carlyle, Elm, Deer, Geneva, North Iola and Osage.
Once the convention is called, any Republican living in those precincts will be eligible to apply for appointment. However, a person’s nomination depends on a precinct representative making the motion.