MARTINS FERRY — The Purple City has a new treasurer — Susan Yeso of Martins Ferry.

Yeso was among four candidates for the position that became vacant after the death of longtime treasurer Rhonda Bernardo.

Bernardo, who worked for the city for several years, died Sept. 7 due to a sudden medical condition. She was 63 years old.

Prior to the City Council meeting Wednesday, Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies said all of the candidates had strong accounting skills, but Yeso also checked off the most boxes when it came to availability.

“She will be a great asset to the city,” he said.

Yeso works full-time for an accounting office that is located just a block away from the city building, he noted. The treasurer job is a part-time position.

“With Susan Yeso we feel comfortable that she is local and easy to get to. … We asked all the candidates a series of questions, and the best answers came from her on availability,” Davies said.

Having good candidates to choose from was a good problem for the city to have.

“I don’t think there was a wrong answer. Whoever we picked would have been good,” Davies said.

Davies said Yeso also is willing to run for re-election.

“Most of them were,” he added.

The position’s elected term lasts until the end of 2021. Yeso will have to run in next year’s primary if she plans to keep the position.

Bernardo was an independent, which means it was up to Davies to appoint someone to fill the job. If she had a party affiliation, the appointment would have been done by a committee of that party.

Yeso holds a bachelor of science in Family Financial Management from Ohio State University. She previously worked as an accounting manager for Relay Gear and since 2008 has worked as an executive assistant to Susan Tolbert, certified public accountant.

She is a eucharistic minister of St. Mary Catholic Church, a charter member of the Martins Ferry Lions Club and founder of the Leo Club of Martins Ferry. She also works with her family’s toy store business in the city, Deluxe Toy & Hobby, Davies said.

“I’m very honored to fill the position and to serve my community,” Yeso said Wednesday. “It allows me to give back to the city of Martins Ferry and its citizens.”