WW Commissioners postpone filling auditor vacancy

WALLA WALLA — At its January 12 meeting, the Walla Walla Board of County Commissioners postponed making an appointment to fill the county auditor vacancy. The previous auditor, Karen Martin, retired on December 31, 2025, leaving a year till the end of her term. The commissioners have 60 days to fill the vacancy that runs through December 31, 2026. The next election for the partisan seat will be the November 2026 general election.

Martin, a Republican, was reelected in 2022. Since the auditor position is a partisan seat, the Walla Walla County Republican Party must provide the county commissioners with three candidates for the vacancy appointment. The list includes:

Beth Daves is an elected Waitsburg Parks and Recreation commissioner and serves as treasurer.

Sheryl Park is a tax preparer and a federally licensed tax professional, and the treasurer of the Walla Walla County Republican Party.

William Plucker teaches civics and social studies at Walla Walla High School. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America and is a Walla Walla Historic Preservation Commissioner.

On January 12, Daves, Park, and Plucker were interviewed separately by the commissioners in open session during the Board of Commissioners meeting. Commissioners Bertha Clayton, Todd Kimball, and Gunner Fulmer asked each candidate a series of questions about their backgrounds, accounting experience, and knowledge of the county’s current budget.

The commissioners also asked how they would handle hypothetical scenarios as a department leader.

After hearing answers to the 15 questions, the commissioners decided they needed more information before making the appointment.

The board tentatively set the following discussion for Monday, Jan. 26.