ERIE — Chasity Foreaker, deputy Neosho County clerk, was nominated to fill the clerk’s position last week by the county’s Republican committee.
The nomination goes to Gov. Laura Kelly’s office. Dey-Leigh Umbarger was elected in August 2024 as county clerk, defeating incumbent Heather Elsworth. However, the week before Umbarger was to take office, she notified the clerk’s office that she decided against taking the position for personal reasons.
Former Deputy Clerk Cat Diel was named interim county clerk and Foreaker deputy clerk.
Foreaker was one of four candidates interested in the position and interviewed at the Neosho County Republican Central Committee meeting on Jan. 30 in the basement of the courthouse in Erie. The committee had 32 votes available, five of them proxies.
The other candidates were Jennifer Semrad, Melanie Kent Culp and Justin Youngberg.
Chasity Foreaker introduces herself to the Neosho County Republican Central Committee on Thursday night in the basement of the courthouse in Erie.
Candidates gave the committee some information about themselves. The committee then interviewed the candidates individually in a closed session. Once back in open session, the committee nominated Foreaker.
Foreaker has worked in the clerk’s office since September 2022. She’s handled accounts payable, data entry, filing, answered phones and served as an election assistant. She told the committee she’s familiar with the duties of the clerk and has gotten to know them in detail for the last two months.
She said she knows where to go to find answers and will dig to find them if she doesn’t know.
Her hope is to build unity in the office and improve trust and teamwork among the county offices.
“Every department works together to hold the glue for our county, for our citizens,” Foreaker said.
She introduced letters of recommendation from Gabby Sands, the recently appointed county treasurer, and Kalee Swayze, the other employee in the clerk’s office.
Foreaker has served as virtual assistant/ front desk assistant for Brenda’s Dance Studio in Chanute.
She said she’s been in Chanute for 12 years and has seven children.
