County has new treasurer

The Butte County Board of Supervisors has selected Linda Barnes as the county’s interim treasurer-tax collector, filling a post left vacant when its long-time occupant, Dick Puelicher, died Aug. 3 after struggling with Lou Gehrig’s Disease for many months.

Barnes had been Puelicher’s assistant for seven years and before that worked in the banking- and savings-and-loan industry since the 1970s. According to published reports, several county officials, including Assessor Ken Reimers, Auditor-Controller David Houser and Clerk-Recorder Candace Grubbs, wrote to the supervisors endorsing Barnes’ appointment.

Puelicher began working for the county in 1975, in the Auditor-Controller’s Office. He was first elected treasurer-tax collector in June 1984 and by all accounts managed the county’s money with great skill.

Barnes’ term will last through 2010. She will need to run for the office if she wishes to continue serving after that.