McCORDSVILLE — The new clerk-treasurer for McCordsville took office on Friday, Jan. 10, a week late because of a delay in obtaining a surety bond.
Staci Starcher, a Republican, was the only candidate to file for the position in the 2019 election. Tom Strayer, McCordsville Town Council president, said Starcher could not take over the town’s accounting and bookkeeping right away because a surety bond for her had yet to be in place.
Attempts to reach Starcher for comment were unsuccessful.
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A surety bond for Starcher was filed on Friday, according to the Hancock County Recorder’s Office. Greg Brewer, a McCordsville Town Council member, said Starcher took the oath of office that same day.
Gregg Morelock, McCordsville town attorney, said state law requires town clerk-treasurers to have a surety bond in place before they take the oath of office. The bond must be in the amount of $30,000 for every $1 million that passes through the office, he added. A crime insurance policy can substitute a surety bond, he continued, but requires the town council to pass an ordinance.
Morelock said an insurance agent informed him Thursday morning that they obtained a bond for Starcher.
He also said state law requires an elected official’s term to last until their duly elected successor has qualified for the office.
That means Cathy Gardner, a Republican who did not seek re-election in 2019 after serving as McCordsville’s clerk-treasurer for 18 years, continued in the position.
Gardner said she was happy to stay on and understands the reason for the law.
“They want to make sure that if the next person can’t get there right away or at all, that the existing officeholder just stays in,” she said.
