New public administrator appointed for Buchanan County

New public administrator appointed for Buchanan County

New public administrator appointed for Buchanan County
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The Associated Press
Aug 30, 2006 3:34 PM (7 days ago)
Current rank: Not ranked
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder appointed a new Buchanan County Public Administrator on Tuesday, a week after Bonnie Sue Lawson resigned amid an investigation of funds missing from clients' accounts.

Charles Lau is a former tax auditor for the Missouri Department of Revenue. As public administrator, he will act as guardian, conservator, personal representative and representative payee for certain citizens, such as minors, the mentally incompetent and those with disabilities.

Lau's appointment, which clears the way for the office to be put on the November ballot, came after the state learned the vacancy prevented distribution of Social Security checks.

"This is kind of rushed," Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway said.

Lawson remains at the center of a city, state and federal investigation after the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received complaints dating to December 2005.

Police have said that Lawson, who served about 500 clients, took money from at least three accounts without authorization or court orders.

"I want to commend Charlie Lau for stepping up to serve his community during this time of change in Buchanan County," Kinder said in a release. "Lau will have his hands full as he takes on the difficult task of cleaning up the damage and restoring confidence in the (office)."

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