Banner County Treasurer Resigns

Banner County Treasurer Monty Stoddard submitted his resignation to the Banner County Commissioners on July 5. The resignation was accepted by the commissioners and will be effective at the end of July.

Stoddard began as Banner County Treasurer in 2011 and was slated for re-election in November.

His name is no longer on the ballot.

He and Banner County Assessor Bernice Huffman were found guilty by Scotts Bluff County Court Judge Kris Mickey of public indecency in an incident that occurred Dec. 28 at the Banner County Courthouse. Both were sentenced to jail time.

The third individual involved in the courthouse activity, employee Caily Reece, was found guilty of public indecency but not sentenced to jail time.

Meanwhile, the process to remove a name from the ballot, according to an email from the Secretary of State Office and Nebraska Statues 32-623 and 32-627, states, “The candidate would have until Aug. 1 to decline the nomination and remove themselves from the ballot. Then the political party that nominated him could choose to replace him on the ballot by Sept. 1.”

The person removing their name must sign an affidavit and submit it to the election commissioner, the county clerk or a notary public. The affidavit is presented to the secretary of state, election commissioner or county clerk for verification.

Paper ballots are printed in late September so they are ready for early voting, which will begin Oct. 3.