Bron Scherer, a Republican activist and accountant, has been named secretary-treasure of the Republican Party of Minnesota.

Chairman Pat Shortridge made the appointment. Scherer will serve the remainder of the term of David Sturrock, who stepped down following disclosure of nearly $2 million in debts and obligations in December.

Scherer, of Northfield, is a founder and Chief Financial Officer of Protein Sources and Protein Sources-Milling, an agribusiness company headquartered in Mapleton. He is a certified public accountant and serves has a local Republican Party chairman. He served as campaign manager and treasurer for two successful legislative campaigns in 2010.

Shortridge, who took over Dec. 31 from former chairman Tony Sutton, said Scherer's "strong financial experience and commitment to our party's values will be crucial as we work to get things back on track and prepare for victory in November."