LeMaster is named JC Assessor (04/01/08)

Jay County's newest public official is spending his first day on the job today.

Rural Portland resident Terry LeMaster will be sworn-in today as Jay County Assessor by county clerk Jane Ann Runyon.

LeMaster was chosen Saturday in a caucus of county Republican precinct committeemen from a field of three candidates to replace retiring assessor Anita Mills.

LeMaster, who plans to retire from his job with the state of Indiana, was selected on the first ballot Saturday at the Jay Community Center by a majority of the 17 committeemen present.

One of the votes may have come from LeMaster himself, who is Greene Township Committeeman. His son Greg LeMaster is also a precinct committeeman.

Two others - Lisa Kirby, the current first deputy assessor, and Cherrie Geesaman, who works for assessing firm Appraisal Research Inc. - had applied for the position.

Under state law, LeMaster will be required to obtain certification as a Level II appraiser.

His term in office will end Dec. 31, 2010.

A message left at the assessor's office this morning for LeMaster was not returned as of 11:15 a.m.[[In-content Ad]]