I BELIEVE THE CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY SHARE IN MY DESIRE TO SEE OUR COUNTY BECOME KNOWN AS A COMMUNITY OF ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS THRU COMMUNICATION, CONSENSUS BUILDING, COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION. THEREFORE, FOUNDED UPON THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES, I PLEDGE MY SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY:
ONE MAY RIGHTLY ASK; WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS THAT YOU HAVE ADDRESSED USING THE PRINCIPLES OF; COMMUNICATION, CONSENSUS BUILDING, COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION?
ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES ON THE MINDS OF MANY CITIZENS IS THEIR SAFETY AND THE PROSECUTION OF LAW-BREAKERS. IN REALITY ONE CANNOT ADDRESS ANY ONE SEGMENT, IE. JUVENILE JUSTICE, PATROL OFFICERS, PROCECUTING ATTORNEY, JAIL OR THE COURTS BY THEMSELVES. RATHER, ONE MUST LOOK AT THE WHOLE AS A SYSTEM. MUCH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AND SAID ABOUT THE OVERLOAD FOUND IN EACH COMPONENT OF THE SYSTEM. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND HOW WILL HOPEFULLY BE THE PRODUCT OF THE SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ROUNDTABLE. THE COUNTY COMMISSION IN COLLABORATION WITH CITY COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED AND CHARGED AN 18 MEMBER CITIZENS PANEL TO STUDY THIS ISSUE AND STRIVE TO DEVELOP A CONSENSUS REPORT SETTING FORTH THEIR FINDINGS. THESE FINDINGS WILL THEN GUIDEOUR DELIBERATIONS ON PRIORITIZING AND ADDRESSING THE SYSTEM NEEDS. THIS IS TRUELY A GRASS-ROOTS APPROACH TO GOOD GOVERNMENT.
IT HAS BEEN SAID, "JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED". THE BACK-LOG OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE IN THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL LAB IN JEFFERSON CITY IS WELL KNOWN AND HAS BEEN, IN MANY CASES, A MAJOR OBSTACLE IN MOVING THE PROSECUTION OF CASES FORWARD IN A TIMELY MANNER. BY THE END OF THIS YEAR A NEW STATE OF THE ART HIGHWAY PATROL OPERATED CRIME LAB WILL OPEN HERE IN SPRINGFIELD. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS IN EVERY SENSE, RESULTED FROM A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING CONGRESSMAN ROY BLUNT, GOVERNER MATT BLUNT, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, HIGHWAY PATROL, CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, GREENE COUNTY AND 14 LOCAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS. TODAY THERE IS INTEREST AMONG SEVERAL SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND SOME LARGER MUNICIPALITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
- HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SPRINGFIELD, OTHER GREENE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND SOME OF THEIR MUNICIPALITIES ALONG WITH THE OZARKS TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATION (OTO), MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES HAVE OCCURRED. MANY OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE COME ABOUT THRU COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AND COLLABORATIVE SHARING IN THE USE OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS. DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS THIS EFFORT IN GREENE COUNTY HAS RESULTED IN: 13 NEW BRIDGES, 7 MILES OF NEW AND IMPROVED ROADS, PAVED SURFACING IMPROVEMENT TO 279 MILES, AND SAFETY STRIPING OF 1,334 MILES OF ROAD. WHILE ACCOMPLISHING THIS ACTIVITY, THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT ALSO GRAPPLED WITH ISSUES AND WORKLOAD RESULTING FROM TWO MAJOR ICE STORMS, TWO MAJOR FLOODS AND NUMEROUS TORNADOS AT A COST OF OVER $11,400,000 AND WITH NO MONEY BEING BORROWED OR INTEREST PAID FOR THE EXTRA WORK.
- DEVELOPMENT OF ALL HAZARDS AND MITIGATION RESPONSE PLAN
THIS COOPERATIVE EFFORT LED BY OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ALONG WITH THE SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEOPARTMENT,RED CROSS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE RESCUE, AND OTHERS HAS RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DETAILED PLANS ADDRESSING A WIDE VARIETY OF POTENTIAL DISASTER SITUATIONS. RESIDENTS OF GREENE COUNTY AND ITS COMMUNITIES MAY REST ASSURED THAT GREAT EFFORT AND CARE HAS BEEN MADE TO BOTH PROTECT AND RESPOND TO POTENTIAL SAFETY THREATS AND EVENTS.
- TECHNOLOGY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT OUR SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT ARE IMPLEMENTING A STATE OF THE ART COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS REAL-TIME COMPUTER DIALOGUE FROM PATROL OFFICERS IN THE FIELD ON A VARIETY OF SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. FINAL INTERGRATION WILL TIE VITAL CRIMINAL INFORMATION IN REAL TIME FASHION WITH THE OFFICE OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. THIS SYSTEM ALSO FEEDS VITAL TWO WAY VISUAL AND DATA COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL PATROL CARS. THANKS TO THE WORK AND EFFORTS OF OUR SHERIFF, THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT HAS BROUGHT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF ALL GREENE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES.
- ADDRESSING 911 REVENUE SHORTFALL
AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVE FROM LAND LINE USAGE TO CELL PHONE AND VOICE OVER INTERNET, REVENU FOR 911 DERIVED SOULY FROM LAND LINE USAGE BECAME LESS AND LESS. THIS CREATED A SERIOUS FUNDING SHORTFALL THAT HAD TO BE MADE UP FROM GENERAL REVENUE FROM GREENE COUNTY AND SPRINGFIELD. THE COUNTY WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE 911 BOARD, THE CITIES OF SPRINGFIELD AND REPUBLIC, PROPOSED A SOLUTION INVOLVING A REPLACEMENT TAX SHIFTING FROM LAND LINE TO SALES TAX. THIS PROPOSAL WAS TAKEN TO THE VOTERS AND RECEIVED APPROVAL IN 2007. THE LAND LINE TAX SHORT FALL IS NOT UNIQUE TO GREENE COUNTY AND IS SEEN ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSOURI. HOW THE CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY ROSE TO MEET THIS PROBLEM HAS ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION FROM COMMUNITIES ACROSS MISSOURI TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE SAME FUNDING DELEMA.
- ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATIONS
WITH THE RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION OF GREENE COUNTY’S UNINCORPORATED AREA, FREQUENT ENCOUNTERS WITH STRAY AND UNCONTROLLED DOGS OCCUR. THIS ISSUE WAS EXASCERBATED WITH SPRINGFIELD PASSING ITS PIT BULL ORDINANCE. SUDDENLY THE COUNTY WAS RECEIVING NUMEROUS CALLS FROM RESIDENTS CONCERNED AND FRIGHTENED BY FREE-ROAMING PIT BULLS. THE COUNTY COMMISSION WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN 2007, ADOPTED THR FIRST COUNTY REGULATION ADDRESSING DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE WITHIN THE URBAN SERVICE AREA OF SPRINGFIELD. THIS WAS A HISTORIC FIRST STEP INVOLVING ANIMAL CONTROL FOR GREENE COUNTY AND WAS DONE WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE.
- WORKING TO ADDRESS COUNTY JAIL ISSUES
YOU BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME SEEMS TO BE A STATEMENT THAT FITS OUR COUNTY JAIL. ALTHOUGH MODREN IN EVERY SENSE, THE JAIL INMATE CAPACITY CONTINUES TO BE A VERY REAL PROBLEM. WORKING TOGEATHER TO DEVELOP CONSENSUS ON HOW TO BEST ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM HAS PROVED BOTH DIFFICULT AND ELUSIVE. UPON REACHING AN ALL TIME HIGH OF OVER 580 INMATES IN 2006 THE SHERIFF, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, COURT ENBANC AND COUNTY COMMISSION BEGAN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING A PRISIONERS RISK FOR INCARCERATION AND RELEASE. THOSE ADJUDGED TO HAVE THE LOWEST RISK TO SOCIETY WERE APPROVED FOR EARLY RELEASE WHILE STILL OTHERS WERE RELEASED WITH ANKEL BRACELETS OR ELECTRONIC MONITORING. THIS ACTION TOOK THE DAILY CENSUS DOWN TO UNDER 500. UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN WITH THIS PROCESS IN PLACE, BY 2008 THE POPULATION WAS ONCE AGAIN BACK TO THE MID 500’S. FINALLY, THE COUNTY COMMISSION HAS AUTHORIZED HIRING A COURTS ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP STREAMLINE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM PROCEEDURES AND FUTHER ADDRESS OUR JAIL OVERPOPULATION ISSUE. ONCE AGAIN, THESE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE.
IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN OVER WATER QUALITY, WE NOW HAVE THE CONCERN ABOUT THE AVAILABLE QUANTITY OF OUR GROUND WATER SUPPLY.THIS IS A JUSTIFIABLE CONCERN THAT HAS IN GREENE COUNTY, REVEALED ITSELF IN THE FORM OF WATER WELLS GOING DRY AND NEW WELLS BEING DRILLED DEEPER AND DEEPER. TO ADEQUATELY DEVELOPE SOUND AND RELIABLE DATA ON THIS ISSUE, A COLLABORATIVE STUDY WAS STARTED IN 2007 INVOLVING THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, GREENE COUNTY, AND AREA MUNICIPALITIES. NOT ONLY IS THIS STUDAY COLLABORATIUVE IN NATURE, BUT SO IS IT’S FUNDING. THANKS TO A MAJOR GRANT THRU THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE ROY BLUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000, OTHER PARTICIPATING ENTITIES HAVE BROUGHT THAT AMOUNT TO OVER $500,000. THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR SUSTAINABLE AND QUALITY GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY WHILE HELPING ASSURE NECESSARY WATER FOR OUR AGRICULTURE ECONOMY.
- GROWTH—DEVELOPMENT and PRESERVATION
ALL OF THE AREAS I HAVE MENTIONED REQUIRE GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALL INVOLVED. NOWHERE IS THIS MORE EVIDENT THAN FOR ISSUES INVOLVING PLANNING FOR OUR COUNTY’S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. BALANCING LAND OWNERS RIGHTS WITH SOUND DEVELOPMENT TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH REQUIRES A CLEAR UNDERSTAND OF ALL POINTS OF VIEW. NOWHERE IS THIS SEEN MORE CLEARLY THAN WHEN THE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT PRESENTED A DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR UPDATING THE LAND USE PLAN INVOLVING FOUR COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS DURING 2007. GOOD COMMUNICATION WAS NOT OCCURING. TODAY, THRU THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE NOW HAVE STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHERS INVOLVED WORKING TO COLLABORATE ON AREAS OF CONCER, MISUNDERSTANDING, AND OR BOTH. THIS EFFORT WILL HOPEFULLY RESULT IN GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND CONSENSUS AGREEMENT ON THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT ADDRESSES IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTY’S GROWTH.
VALUES
THE VALUES I WILL BRING TO THE JOB AS COMMISSIONER ARE THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED ME VERY WELL FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY ARE:
- CREDIBILITY
- INTEGRITY
- PROFESSIONALISM
CREDIBLITY - WILL BE MY FOCUS FOR ACCURACY REGARDING MY COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION TO OTHERS.
INTEGRITY - WILL MARK HONESTY AND SOUNDNESS OF JUDGMENT THROUGH WHICH I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY.
PROFESSIONALISM - WILL GUIDE MY CONDUCT AND MY APPROACH TO EVALUATING ISSUES AND WORKING TOWARD THEIR SOLUTIONS.
IMPORTANT ISSUES OF MY CANDIDACY
QUALITY OF LIFE
ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AS TO WHICH IS MOST DESIRABLE: QUANTITY OR QUALITY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE MATTER OF ENJOYING LIFE, WITH MOST PEOPLE, QUALITY SEEMS TO WIN OUT.
THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED WHEN EVALUATING QUALITY OF LIFE.
ONE COULD CHOOSE TO VIEW THE PROCESS AS A LIFE CYCLE BEGINNING WITH BIRTH AND ENDING AT DEATH. WHEN THIS APPROACH IS TAKEN QUESTIONS QUICKLY ARISE AS TO QUALITY INFLUENCES SUCH AS:
- DO PARENTS HAVE THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ASSURE THEIR CHILD TAKES THE FIRST STEPS LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS FULL POTENTIAL?
- ARE JOBS AVAILABLE THAT PAY LIVING WAGES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE?
- ARE CHILDREN PERFORMING AT A GRADE LEVEL APPROPRIATE TO EXPECTED OUT COMES?
- ARE IMPORTANT LIFE CYCLE HEALTH ISSUES ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED AS NOT JUST AN ISSUE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL BUT AN OVERRIDING CONCERN OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS WELL-BEING?
- ARE QUALITY LEISURE TIME AND CULTURE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY?
- DOES OUR AGING POPULATION HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT ENABLES THEM TO REMAIN IN AN INDEPENDENT LIVING ENVIRONMENT AS LONG AS PRACTICAL?
- FINALLY, DO WE AS A COMMUNITY HELP ASSURE END OF LIFE ISSUES FOCUS WITH DIGNITY AND CARING ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FAMILIES? --------AND THE LIST GOES ON.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION
IT HAS BEEN SAID,“COMMUNITY GROWTH AND A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT CANNOT CO-EXIST”. I DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THAT THINKING.
I AM THE FIRST TO ADMIT, PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THE FACE OF EXPANDING GROWTH REQUIRES CAREFUL PLANNING, CONTINUOUS EVALUATION AND COLLABORATIVE THINKING.
WE IN GREENE COUNTY ENJOY ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE AND BEAUTIFUL AREAS OF THE OZARKS. I AM COMITTED TO WORKING INDIVIDUALLY AND IN COOPERATION WITH OTHERS TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE RESIDENTS CAN MAKE THAT SAME CLAIM. SUSTAINING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WHILE ACCOMODATING GROWTH WILL BE A HIGH PRIORITY OF MY ADMINISTRATION.
SAFE ROADS AND BRIDGES
IT IS IMPARATIVE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE ABOUT THIS COUNTY ON ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT ARE SAFE. I BELIEVE THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT IS STRIVING TO MEET THAT OBLIGATION. NEVERTHELESS, OUR COUNTY IS GROWING. THEREFORE, BUILDING THIS INFRASTUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE IS ESSENTIAL. THIS REQUIRES CAREFUL PLANNING NOW AND AS YOUR COMMISSIONER, I WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THAT EFFORT.
STRONG LAW ENFORCEMENT
PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIME CONCERN OF CITIZENS THROUGHOUT GREENE COUNTY. THIS COUNTY IS BLESSED WITH A FINE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THESE AGENCIES ARE BOTH STAFFED AND EQUIPPED TO CARRY FORWARD THEIR RESPONSIBILITES TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AS YOUR COMMISSIONER I WILL WORK TO ASSURE THOSE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS.
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
GREENE COUNTY HAS NUMEROUS BOARDS THAT OFFER OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. IT IS MY DESIRE TO ACTIVELY RERUIT INDIVIDUALS THAT DESIRE TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS AREAS OF SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY.
COMMUNITY AND AGENCY COOPERATION & PARTNERSHIPS
MY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THIS VERY THING AND I ARTICULATED SOME OF THOSE RECENT EFFORTS EARLIER. I AM NOT JUST CONVINCED, I KNOW THIS APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT WORKS. WHEN IT DOES, PRECIOUS TAX MONEY IS SAVED, THE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED AND THE OUTCOME IS SUSTAINABLE SINCE THE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS COME FROM OUR CITIZENS. TO ME THIS IS THE TRUE EXPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH MY MOTTO.
IT IS AMAZING WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN ONE IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT.
WHEN YOU ELECT ME AS YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, YOU GET THE CREDIT.
