Ehlmann taps business owner, former school board member to lead Finance Department

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann is selecting Mike Sommer, a local business owner and extensively involved community advocate, to lead the County's Finance Department.

Sommer has owned Sommer & Associates, CPAs in St. Charles for more than 30 years. He also spent 12 years on the Francis Howell Board of Education, including three years as president.

He currently serves as Advisory Board chairman for The Salvation Army of St. Charles County, treasurer of St. Charles County Regional Crime Stoppers, and president of the Rotary Club of St. Charles. He is the past president of the St. Charles Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"Mike has given extensively of his time to his community, and is highly qualified for the Finance Director position," says Ehlmann. "His long experience as a CPA will help ensure St. Charles County continues to be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars."

Sommer's appointment is effective Jan. 1 and requires a vote of approval from the St. Charles County Council, which will be taken up on Dec. 16. Following his confirmation, Sommer will take over for Tracy Bayne, who has served as acting director since 2022.

"I want to express my sincere appreciation to Tracy for her leadership of the department as its acting director," says Ehlmann. "She and the staff of the Finance Department have been dedicated to working hard on behalf of the citizens they serve."