Adamson to serve as auditor early

Fulton County Commissioners, tasked with filling a short-term vacancy resulting from the resignation of Auditor Christina Horton, have appointed Auditor-elect Kathy Adamson to serve the remainder of her term before officially taking office on Jan. 1, 2025.  

Fulton County Treasurer and Auditor-elect Katherine Adamson is stepping into her new role early following the resignation of Christina Horton, formerly Sriver, who has resigned as auditor with less than a month left in her term.

Adamson, who was elected unopposed in this year's November general election, was set to take over the auditor's office on Jan. 1, 2025. She will instead do that a little more than two weeks early to fill the vacancy left by Horton. She was appointed by county commissioners meeting in special session Tuesday. 

Horton's resignation, effective as of Friday, Dec. 6, was announced at the start of the meeting by Commissioner President Bryan Lewis. He noted that under Indiana law the county's chief deputy auditor, Chantal Rensberger, could have served in the interim but declined.

Rensberger noted after the meeting that with Adamson set to take over at the first of the year, serving as auditor temporarily was not a responsibility she was looking to take on. She also referenced that Adamson, already serving as the county's treasurer, was just across the hall and could transition easily within the county office building. 

Fulton County Republican Party Chairman Mike Canada told WROI Giant.fm that there was no need for a caucus to fill the vacancy, as there was less than 30 days before Horton's term expired. 

"It did set off a bunch of calls down state to figure out what to do in this case," he said, adding that Brad King, co-director of the Secretary of State's Election Division, was able to provide some guidance. "It was another learning experience for me due to the shortness of time for the term to expire."

Canada noted that he spent nearly three hours on the phone with various people before connecting with King. 

County officials learned that commissioners, with the blessing of the party chair, could appoint someone to fill the vacancy. Adamson's nomination, made by Commissioner Rick Ranstead and seconded by Commissioner Dave Sommers, was unanimously approved. 

"You will be sworn in Friday late afternoon, and business will resume Monday morning at 8 o'clock," Lewis told Adamson after the vote. 

Adamson will then be sworn in again at the first of the year to begin her first official term as auditor. 

Adamson is the daughter of the late Richard and Sonja Easterday and a lifelong resident of Fulton County. She grew up on a beef, dairy and grain crop farm in northwest Fulton County and continues to live there and farm with her siblings. She graduated from Rochester Community High School in 1985.

In 1996, she received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Western Kentucky University. In 2021, she married Teri Adamson. They have two sons and three grandchildren.

Adamson is a former member of the Fulton County Council and previously served as clerk-treasurer for the city of Rochester.

Additionally, she owns and operates Easterday Tax Service LLC, has served as an office manager for various businesses, has volunteered with the Fulton County 4-H for 30 years and serves on the board of directors for the Fulton County Animal Adoption and Education Center.