Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — The timing of Butler County Auditor Kay Rogers' departure from office after pleading guilty to felony fraud and tax evasion charges could dictate who gets her job — or at least who makes this decision.

Since Rogers is a Republican, the Butler County GOP's roughly 260-member central committee has 45 days to replace her once she steps down. Her replacement would face election in November.

But that committee could be filled with dozens of new faces after the March 4 primary. Committee members are up for election, and it could take more than a month after the primary for a re-organization to be complete.

If Rogers left in the interim, the county commission would choose a temporary auditor until the committee makes its decision.

The party is familiar with the process; it has done it twice in less than a year.

In June 2007, the party put Treasurer Nancy Nix into office after Carole Mosketti resigned amid ethics charges. It also put Commissioner Donald Dixon into office after Michael Fox resigned to apply for Children Services top post

This is assuming that Rogers stays a Republican. If she pulls a Democratic ballot on March 4, it would be up to the county's Democrats to replace her.

Democratic Party Chairman Ron Wardrup downplayed speculation of a party switch.

"Anybody can pull a Democratic ballot, and we encourage that," he said. "Everybody has the right to do that, and Kay is no different."

Rogers hasn't announced any intent to resign or switch parties. And Democrats are gearing up for an unexpected auditor's campaign, though the party has put forward no names officially.

When asked, Wardrup said Jack Zettler would be "my obvious choice" — though he stressed he wasn't speaking for the party.

Zettler, a local attorney who sits on the board of elections, challenged Rogers for the post in 2006 and lost with 48 percent of the vote.

Zettler said he's weighing a run.

"I don't know that I want to go through the expense both in time and in dollars in terms of what it would take in order to run," he said.

Contact this reporter at jsweigart@coxohio.com.