TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND.
My name is Glen D. McKinney. I am a sixth generation McKinney from Texas County, Mo., which came here in the 1840s.
I am married. My wife’s name is Bonita, also known as Bonnie. We have been married for 47 years. I have a son and two daughters and nine grandchildren.
We belong to the Raymondville Community Church where I am a deacon and Sunday School superintendent.
I also am a life member of the NRA and adjunct of American Post No. 41 in Houston and member of many fraternal law enforcement organizations. I am a Texas County Gideon. I had three active Army and 23 years of Army National Guard and reserve status. I was in law enforcement for 50 years. I retired from the King County Sheriff’s Office after 40 years. Most of my time was in special operations and for 18 years I was a forest patrol officer who covered approximately three times the size of Texas County.
I was also involved in search and rescue emergency management for disasters – natural and man-made in the military, security, intelligence operations, personnel, logistics, civil affairs and command sections and NCOIC of operations for train the trainers operations, NCO for leadership training.
WHAT LED YOU TO SEEK THE POST?
The Holy Spirit led me to file. I am not a politician so I had to pray about this. I talked to my pastor. We prayed and got peace with it and I filed. I want to reference I King 13: 11-35. I was instructed by the Holy Spirit not to: (1) raise money (2) not to have a campaign manager (3) No signs. (4) and encourage people to pray for the Holy Spirit to lead them to vote for the person the Spirit leads them to.
For if I would win, it is from the Lord God…anything that I have done.
IF ELECTED, HOW DO YOU FORESEE YOUR ROLE?
The Revised Statutes of Mo. chapter 49 spell out the duties of the commissioners. What the commissioners are required to do by administrative oversight of the county’s real and physical property and inventory and things over $1,000 and all funds coming into the county and payout of all funds that are received to the county. Accountability of the funds and property to be used wisely for the benefit of citizens of Texas County.
WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT?
The unique location geographically in the state. It is the largest county by land – like the state it was named after. The county seat is named after the president of the Republic to Texas, along with Sam Houston Boulevard.
There are two Trail of Tears in the county, there were Civil War skirmishes, Indian mounds, the Tweed House, Emmett Kelly, the natural resources and caves, springs and the potential of economic development growth by agriculture and tourism. The county should work hand in hand with all the cities, towns and villages to promote the county as a whole.
WHERE DO YOU SEE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
If you are talking about the commissioner’s office itself, before I would make or offer any changes, I would get to understand the function of the position before making any changes. Then identify the problem with the staff or other elected officials. Brainstorm the issue, make a plan, policy, coordination operation, exercise the plan, critique the plan, make necessary changes to implement the plan, standard operating procedures and directive for the function and be willing to change the directive when necessary.
HOW WILL YOU COMMUNICATE TO THE CITIZENS YOU SERVE ABOUT WHAT IS OCCURRING WITHIN YOUR OFFICE?
Have meetings in the meeting, take the meetings on the road – Licking, Cabool, Summersville, Roby, Plato areas, go to townships, fire department meetings, go to where the people are. Bring the meetings to them. Very few people can get away to go to a Wednesday meeting at the Texas County Administrative Center. Use all the media, newspapers, radio. A public information officer publishes notices when needed.
If a person has a complaint, the person should also suggest a solution to it. Speak up. Be heard. All ideas are welcome. We have a saying in search and rescue, “Silence complies consent.”
Hello, Reading your bio with considerable interest, and my impression is you are more than qualified for that important position. I do not know nor can guess what politics may be involved in the matter, but I hope for the county’s and ordinary people’s sake your vast, varied exerience and talent and conscientious application to your duties in all your jobs and responsibilities serving the public welfare in past years will prevail in people’s minds above party affiliations and even old ties of personal friendship. The county and people will benefit most when the best man is chosen. I can say you are missed in Washington State since you moved home. But Missouri will gain what Washington State has lost–a great citizen and patriot, indeed, a man devoted to advancing the good of all the people and who will not rest while there is much good yet to be done.